"The Vermin“ Reply To Mr. Bevan

Chronicle (Levin), 12 July 1948, Page 2

"The Vermin“ Reply To Mr. Bevan

(N.Z.P.A.-

-Reutei

*, Copyright)

llcceived Suiulav, 7 i>.ih. LUNPON, July 10. JSlr. Churchill, ixi a spocch, reforreii to JMr. Anouriu Bovau's specch at Mauchestor ou July 4 Iu which he spoko of the buruing hatred o.t" the Cou.servativcs who were "lower thau vermm. " Mr. Churchill said: " We speak oi tlie ALinistor of Health. Ought uot we rather to Hay the Minister of Uisease'/ rsu't.morbid hatred a form of iueutal disease ? I can tliink of no belter step to signaliso the inauguration of the uational health service tlian that tlie person who so obviously needs psvchiatrical attention, should be- ainong its iirst patients. " llis description of Conservati ves as "lower thau vermin/ ' has earned klr. Aneuriu iievan soine uncompJiiuentary coninients. They include: ' Lord Salisbury: "His burniiig and pathological hatred of half his fellow couutrymen, is uot a good basis for a united uational elfort." Lord Keadixig: "I never read a more deplorable specch. ' ' Mr. L. D. Canunans: "JMr. Bevan is Ihe Conservatives' best propagandisl and we'get his service free. His re uiai'k, liko Mr. Shinwell's tinker's 1'iiss, is worth liundreds of thousands of votes to us. " The Nows-Chroniclc: "Kancour ot the sort wliich Mr. Bevan has shown, Lakes politics out of the field of rcason. A mood of inloJerance is one thing we rnusl avoid in our democratic country. If anything could wreek our sysLein of governnient by persuasion, it would be the subordination of enlightenuient and reason to bitterness and hatred." Tlie Conservatives at Wellington, Shropshire, have sent a telegrani to Mr. Bevan stating: "The vermin in the Wrekin Division regard you with the contempt you deserve and not for themsel ves but for their countrv 's reputation. We deplore the debasing of the high otBce entrusted to you as a Minister of the Crown. British people eagerly await the day when the Minister of Health is again in the eharge of a Minister worthy of some respeet. "■ A telegram of protest has also been sent torthe Prime Minister.