QGINTIN HOGG'S WEEK ignoring his own exhorta- tion to politicians
to avoid mud-slinging, the Minister of Science denounced Mr. Wilson as a `Goldwater in reverse' and likened him to a 'three- card trickster.' The Commons Privileges Corn- mittee, however, found that another onslaught in similar vein three months ago was not a breach of privilege. This week also, Mr. Hogg rejected suggestions for a Ministry of Leisure, as such functions could easily be added to his own duties. For the Opposition, Mr. Callaghan tried to divert Political attention towards contributors to Tory funds, caused a flurry by suggesting a nationalised electricity board had been guilty, and goaded a cement manufacturer into maintaining that 'Aims' of Industry' is not a political organisation.
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THE CIVIL RIGHTS BILL was passed by the US Senate, with Senator Goldwater voting against: while Republican election managers despairingly Insisted that their Presidential candidate would have to be in favour of civil rights, Senator Gold- water showed little signs of budging. Meanwhile Mr. Cabot Lodge resigned as US Ambassador to South Vietnam, and proclaimed his intention of helping Governor Scranton. President Johnson affirmed the US determination to press on in Laos, and called on China to stop its infiltration. Mr. Grivas embarrassed President Makarios by returning to Cyprus, Mr. Kenyatta promised that the Kenyan constitution would be scrapped, and Moscow warned Peking not to count on support In any crisis while Peking's 'dirty anti-Soviet campaign' was being continued.
RAILWAYMEN MADE A WAGE CLAIM, postmen may receive higher pay, the independent inquiry into the Welsh steel strike criticised both sides, and the Restrictive Practices Court condemned price-fixing in the steel industry. Next term's President of the Oxford Union was gated for half of next term after the South African Ambassador was mobbed, and a one-coach train carrying Dr. Beeching was pelted with tomatoes as it passed through a station he had closed. Cuba ordered 500 more English buses, £1 million is to be spent on a geological survey for a Channel Tunnel, and three policemen were sent to prison for planting bricks on innocent people. The BBC found it had not a single programme in the top twenty—for the first time in six months—but promised to show old films on Sunday evenings as well as Sunday after- noons. Sound programmes are to be given pop almost around the clock.
ONE CINEMA CHAIN ordered managers to play the National Anthem before shows begin instead of during the stampede at the.end, and purple hearts are to be changed in shape and colour. Thirty Druids took part in this year's Stonehenge cere- mony, after producing passes from the Ministry of Public Building and Works. Snow was reported in Wiltshire, and Mecca dance-halls are to ban girls wearing topless dresses.
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BRITAIN'S MAJOR SPORTING WEEK was awash with rain : three days were lost at Ascot, and the Lord's Test was drawn, after more than two days' Play was lost. Three players were almost banned from playing at Wimbledon after the authorities took fright at reports of newspaper articles by competitors. One bright sporting spot Was the end at last of the transatlantic yacht race, with the winner, Eric Tabarly, overnight becoming a national hero in France.
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