1940-05-23 — Page 6

THE CHINA MAIL, MAY 23, 1940. ́.

Churchill Government Faces Up To Crisis

UNPRECEDENTED

POWERS TAKEN

LONDON, TO-DAY.

A STATEMENT ON THE “GRAVE SITUÄTION” WAS MADE BY MR. C. R. ATTLEE, THE LORD. PRIVY SEAL AND DEPUTY LEADER OF THE HOUSE, AFTER QUESTIONS IN THE COMMONS YESTERDAY AFTERNOON.

Mr. Attlee said: "I rise to inform the House that the pre- sent situation is so critical that the Government is compelled to seek special powers from the House by a Bill to be passed through all its stages in both Houses of Parliament to-day.

"The situation is grave. Every member is aware of that

and every member is aware of the issues at stake. "A great battle is now proceeding. Our men at sea, on

land and in the air are fighting with splendid cour age, devotion and skill (cheers) accompanied by the freedom-loving people who are our allies.

"The result of that battle we cannot the conduct of the war. know but it must be clear to all that

the next few weeks are critical.

Need For Power

or-

"Our ruthless enemy who is re- After the House had agreed to the strained by no considerations of in-resolution suspending standing ternational law, justice or humanity | ders, Mr. Attlee rose to move the is throwing everything into the scale second reading of the Emergency Po- to force a decision.

wers Defence Bill, and said:

"We are resolved he shall not suc- ceed. (Cheers).

"The

Government is convinced now is the time when we must

mobilise to the full the whole re- sources of this country.

Whole Weight

"We must throw all

our

weight into the struggle. Every private in- terest must give way to the urgent need. of the community.

"We cannot know what the next few weeks, or even days, may bring forth but whatever may come we shall meat it as the British people in the past have met dan- gers and overcome them.

ernment should be

control over persons and

"I belleve that in this critical time the majority of the people of this country will willingly give their ser- vices to the country and will do all

that is asked of them.

"We introduce this Bill not be- cause we have any doubt as to the willingness of the people but because in a difficult emergency like this there must be the necessary power in the

Government."

Mr. Attlee explained that the operative part of the Bill was the extension of the Emergency Po- wers Defence Act, 1939, and de talled the main provisions of the Bill.

"But it is necessary that the Gov-sion of the original Act for

The Bill also provided for exten- another given complete

year. property, not just some persons or a particular

"This Act expires in August this class of the community,

No-one can tell quite but

year.

what conditions may be in August all persons, rich or poor, employer

this

or worker, man or woman.

year and therefore it is best to ex- tend the Act now. (Hear, hear).

over

"It is for these powers that I am asking the House to-day. I do not ask for them in a spirit of panic. There is no need to panic, but we are asking that in this emergency we should be given the requisite po- wers that may be needed.

Grave Peril

"In order to pass the Bill through all its stages it is necessary to move the procedure motion without notice. The Government asks the House to acquiesce in this procedure in view of the grave peril in which the na- tion stands to-day.

"The resolution is in precisely the same form to that moved In August last year for the purpose of pass-*. Ing the original Emergency Powers Defence Bill through all its stages in the same day."

Mr. Lees-Smith, on behalf of the Labour Party, thanked Mr. Attlee for his explanation. The time was now for action, he said, a time for show- ing that the Commons could be completely efficient instrument-for-

a

All Alike

"I don't want anyone to jump to the conclusion that all of a sudden every- body is going to do something differ- ent from what he is doing now.

emer-

"The essential thing in an gency is that people should continue at their jobs until ordered to do other-

wise.

"What is proposed is that there should be control

over persons and property. The Minister of Labour will be given power to direct any per- son to perform any services required.

"That does not necessarily mean service in munitions or factories. It doesn't apply only to workmen, It applies to everybody.

of

"Everybody alike must be under his control. He will be able to prescribe the terms of remuneration, terms labour or hours of service.

"Remuneration will be on the basla of remuneration for the job. If an engineer is asked to do engin- eer's-work-he-gets an engineer's pay,

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SEVEN-DAY WEEK IN BRITAIN

London, To-day.

The Minister of Supply has in- structed all Royal Ordnance con- tractors works engaged on urgent Ministry of Supply contracts to work full time for seven days a week until further notice.-Reu-

ter.

IN HOUSE OF LORDS

London, To-day.

In the House of Lords yesterday the Dominions Secretary, Lord Caldecote, asked the House to adjourn until it received the Emergency Po- wers Bill.

+

Lord Caldecote said he asked for an adjournment in order that the Bill might be passed through all its stages and receive the Royal As- sent the same day.-Reuter.

BILL QUICKLY TAKEN THROUGH ALL STAGES

London, To-day.

AFTER LESS THAN AN HOUR'S discussion the emergency Bill giving the Government special powers' was read a second time without division.

Mr. Lees-Smith, leader in the House of the Labour Party, said one couldn't help recognising in Mr. Attlee's speech that he had in mind certain contingencies of a charac- ter which had never yet faced this country, and broad- ly speaking he wished to ensure the country would not be taken by surprise, as some other countries had been. Mr. James Maxton (Independent Labour Party), said he was not going to take the responsibility of dividing the House against the measure but would scrutinise the regulations when they came before the House.

Mr. William Gallagher (Com- munist) declared the Bill represent-

ROYAL

ASSENT IN

ed a deliberate effort on the part of 2 HOURS

the ruling olasses to conquer the working classes.

Mr. David Kirkwood (Labour) said so far as he was able to judge the working class was going to be tied hand and foot by the Bill while pri- vate property was not.

Control Of Banks

Mr. Attlee, replying to the debate, said

the Bill would also apply to

Northern Ireland.

Mr. Attlee emphasised that the banks would be controlled and would be operated under Government orders just as much as anybody working in a factory.

London, To-day.

After occupying only two and a half hours on its pass- age through both Houses, the Emergency Powers (Defence) |Bill became law at 6.10 last evening when the Royal Com- mission signified the Royal Assent to the Bill.

Plans had been made to make the Orders-in-Council under the Emer gency Powers Defence Bill effective as soon as the Bill received the Royal Assent.

between people whether rich or poor. There should be no discrimination

The Government's action was taken They should all be willing to per- in agreement with political and indus- form services and give up their pro-trial Labour, party if necessary and those who were recalcitrant would come into precisely the same category whether they were rich or poor.

a

The Bill was passed through all the remaining stages and was given third reading.-Reuter.

The main heads under which Gov. ernment has complete control un.. der the Bill are in regard to bank. ing, land transport, war Industries and non-essential luxury trades. · Government will have complété control over labour supply. War in- dustries and industries dealing, with

If someone else is asked to do a job the export trade will be given abso- -he gets the pay-of-thatjáb′′

"If a professional man has to do professional work he gets professional pay but if he is asked to do manual work he gets manual pay.

lute priority.

Labour will be drafted from non- essential trades as required to more essential, industries, Reuter.

T.U.C. GUARANTEES FULL COOPERATION

London, To-day,

Pay Of Good Employers "As to general conditions, it is pro- posed everyone should carry out in- dustrial agreements where these have A meeting of the joint advisory been arrived at, but where agreements council of representatives of employ have not been arrived at, rates of payers and the General Council of the are to be those normally paid by good Trades Union Congress, at which the employers.

Minister of Labour made known the "If there are cases where people are statement made by Mr. Attlee in the asked to shift from one district to an- Commons, decided whole-heartedly t other there will be provision in re-co-operate in steps, “necessary to gard to payment for a thing of that cure the protection of the country kind.

and an Allled victory". Reuter.