A SUCCESSOR

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 64, Issue 4527, 23 January 1942, Page 2

A SUCCESSOR

FOR WINSTON CHURCHILL “A nice constitutional point is raised in a ‘Times’ leader, in which Mr Churchill is encouraged virtually to select a successor to himself and to indicate to the King in advance that successor’s name. It has been suggested, writes ‘Janus’ in the ‘Spectator,’ tha this is rather like the method adopted by Hitler, who nominated Goering to succeed him and (a little unfortunately), failing him, Rudolf Hess. But I think it is sound constitutional procedure. When a Government is defeated and resigns, the obvious course is to invite the Opposition leader to form

a Ministry. But today there is no real Opposition, and no such contingency as the defeat of the Prime Minister in the House is contemplated. But the perils of this mortal life in wartime are not to be ignored, and if ever—which God forbid—Mr Churchill had to be replaced, the King ought not to be faced with the immense responsibility of deciding whom to send for. As the ‘Times’ puts it, with considerable delicacy, ‘he (the Prime Minister) can do much, while he is still at the head of affairs, to guide the choice which it will fall to others finally to make.’ That seems good sense. Mr Churchill himself, of course, is where he is because his predecessor , advised the King to send for him.”