Mr. W. W. Wakefeld, in his glorious Jdays on the Tugger fields, had seldom reason to fear being outweighted in the scrum. In his gallant adventure for the retention of the Conservative seat at Swindon that fear must have been embarrassingly active. His successful Labour opponent, besides Doing a former Member" for the Wiltshire borough. had been a War-[time coalition Cabinet Minister and a Labour Minister of Agriculture. Dr, Christopher Addison, "moreover, was the first Minister of Health in a British Government and has held Important university appointments. JAgainst these political qualifications Ir. Wakefeld could set honourable services with the Royal Air Force in the War and afterwards, up-to-date business experience in the modern field of. broadcasting and the Captaincies of England, Cambridge University, Middlesex, the Harlequins fond his own service side at Rugby Football, The loss of Swindon can Ihave been' due to no lack of leadership or personal attraction on the lpart_ of the defeated Conservative feandidate. Tt may probably be attri-[butable to the heavy guns which Dr. Addison was able to bring to bear {from his own experience in criticism Jor the Government's social reform programme, The achievements of That programme have been consider-fable but have not had the publicity they deserved. Consequently the [scope for the attacks of political Jopponents has been generous. The [Swindon verdict will not be palatable those who are inclined to pooh~ Jpooh recent evidences of Labour strength.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.