BELGIAN GOVERNMENT ACTS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 65, Issue 42, 29 November 1944, Page 3

BELGIAN GOVERNMENT ACTS.

BILL PASSED BY DEPUTIES. MINISTRY STANDS FIRM. (N.Z. Press Association —Copyright.) (Rec. 11.10 a.m.) BRUSSELS, Nov. 28. With steel-helmeted British troops, also tanks outside Parliament, supporting the Belgian State Police, the Chamber of Deputies approved, by 116 votes to 12, a Bill granting special powers to the Government. Only six deputies abstained from voting. The Bill dealt with the administration of justice, special powers for the Ministry of Food, a social security measure, the right to dismiss members from provincial and communal councils, and measures to restore devastation caused by the war. The Prime Minister (M. Pierlot), in a speech, declared that the Government would not resign In the face of the demonstrations, and steps would be taken against the Communist newspaper “Drapeau Rouge,” unless it refrained from provocative activities. M. Pierlot said that 27,000 weapons out of 49,000 held by the Resistance Movement had already been given up. Thirty-four thousand members of the Resistance Movement tvould be incorporated in the Army. The first battalion of the new formations would march through Brussels in a few days before going to the front. A “general council of resistance” would be created, whereon would be representatives of various Resistance groups, both armed and unarmed, This council would give a definite status to those who had actively fought the enemy and would exclude trouble-makers. The Government would shortly submit a Bill against war profits. Reuter's correspondent at Brussels says that the Special Powers Bill gives the Pierlot Government almost totalitarian powers for the administration of internal economy. M. Pierlot in his speech revealed that the Government had intervened to prevent armed motorised convoys of “rebels” leaving Mons for Brussels. It was later reported that armed men like those in the convoy from Mons were also heading for Brussels from other centres. The principal street leading to the House of Parliament is full of armoured vehicles and barbed wire entanglements. } The Left Wing (extremist) Opposition is reported to be completely against the Pierlot Government, following the shooting clash on Saturday and it is expected'that M. Pierlot will resign in the face of a wave of strikes threatening to paralyse national transport and disrupt the internal services.