THOMAS VERSUS CHURCHILL.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 September 1924, Page 4

THOMAS VERSUS CHURCHILL.

A RATTLE OK WITS. LONDON’. .July till. •Mr A- 11. Thomas (N’crrolary for the Colonies) and Mr Winston Churchill came into Iri.-ndly collision at a dinner given at the Savoy lintel In honour ol the delegates to the International Advertising C'(invention. In proposing the toast of the Convention, .Mr Thomas said that it was fitting tliaL the most important toast of the evening should be introduced by

the ill fist important person present (Laughter). That sentiment was ac-

cepted in all (piartcrs, except' the top table, i Loud laughter). The reason was obvious. They had not yet got rid of the old Adam and its jealousy (laughter) and he could ipiitc understand the reluctance of liis old political Iriemls ami opponents of both parties ami all parties to accept that sentimenL with enthusiasm. lie noticed how easily their guests not only adapted themselves to the eireiim.stanees but entered into the whole tiling. ('Cheers), lie observed their American cousins drinking the health of the King and singing with more enthusiasm than the whole of tho British nation nut together. (Cheers). They had not only Inn rued the time, hut had adapted themselves fo the language. (Cheers). That was a gathering that deserved to he honoured not l.y it >Octioii hut 1 1 y all classes of the community. That was why they had so many shades of politics present

Iliiit night. .Ml! (lIURCHII.L’S VERSATILITV. Take the fart of (In' presume til his friend, Mr Winston Churchill. fLoinl cheers). Tho appreciation of his nnini', which wns so universal timl spontaneous, merely indicated that lie pleased nil parties. (I.oinl laughter). That was ipiile true, heeatise he hail sampled them all. (Laughter, ami Mr Winston Churchill: "Not yours; not yet.”) -Mr Churchill was originally a Tory, hnt lie found them too taie.e. (Laughter). lie then became a Liberal, IniL did not know what they were. (Laughter). lie was then a Coalitionist, hnt found it a had mixture, and only that evening Mr Churchill said to him: “.M.v Cod, dim, if your party were not so honest and virtuous I would have joined it right j away.” (Loud laughter), lie was a good judge, hecausc honesty and simplicity were emhodied in his party’s polities. (Laughter). Americans were delighted to talk about democracy, hut took the earliest opportunity to come to this country to see how it operated. (Cheers and laughter). They might have imagined from what they had read that this old country was in difficulties. We were not ashamed to proclaim our faith in tho Old Country. (A voice: "Why the hell should you he-"). For the simple reason that tliose who did not realise it ought to he in hell. (Cheers). When the time came for the Labour Government to hand over the seals of office, they would return to their successors the Empire unimpaired. COM PC I. SOILY VIRTUE.

Mr Churchill, who was received with musical honours, proposed “The British Empire Exhibition,” and said that liis right honourable friend the Colonial Secretary had, in proposing the toast entrusted to him, allowed himself a very full latitude, and had browsed and cruised about the territorial find aquatic surface of the

world. (Laughter ■. lie did not tliink that Mr Thomas needed much sympathy. Ho was in a position of not being allowed to indulge in his natural propensities. (Loud laughter). lie was in a state of compulsory virtue.

i Loud laughter). They all had their dark side and good side, and it was only the good side of'Mr Thomas that was allowed effectively to sec the light of day. (Laughter). He had made a speech that one certainly would not associate with a social revolutionary. ; Laughter). There he was leading the people to the ambition of their most sublime dreams, with a very solid Conservative Party and very active Liberal Party on his right and left to make quite sure that he did not stray too far from the beaten track. (Laughter). l’.ut lie knew where Mr Thomas s heart lay. He worked hard in (he (treat War, as many thousands of llritish Socialists and Trade Unionists did io secure victory. He laid had, no doubt, a difficult time. The railwaymen m (treat Britain, who were looted in the heart of the nation, must have given him some anxious moments in the course ol the last years, and there must have been times when, however agile ho was, however flexible his attitude, and genial his aspect, he must have stiftcrcd severe attacks of “cramp."