BRITISH STEEL

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26219, 16 September 1950, Page 7

BRITISH STEEL

Government’s Fate Hangs On Motion (N.Z.P. A .—Reuter—Copyright) LONDON, September 14. The Prime Minister (Mr Attlee) to-night announced in the House of Commons, that the Government intended to go ahead with its plans to nationalise the iron and steel industry under the act already passed. Mr Churchill at once tabled a motion condemning this decision. If the motion is carried—the Government having decided to treat it as a motion of censure—it will mean the Government’s resignation. Mr Churchill’s motion, which will be debated on Tuesday, reads: “That this House regrets tjie decision of His Majesty’s Government to bring the Steel Nationalisation Act into immediate Operation during this period of tension and danger, thus needlessly dividing the nation on party political issues end disturbing the smooth and efficient working of an industry vital to our defence programme.” The House was told by the Minister of Supply (Mr G. R. Strauss) that the vesting day of the Steel Corporation when the securities of 100 msjor companies would be taken over would be January 1, 1951, or as soon as practicable thereafter.

Mr Strauss said that appointments to the Iron and Steel Board which will run the industry would be made on October 2. Mr S. J. Hardie, chairman of the British Oxygen Company, and parttime member of the Transport Commission, had agreed to accept the chairmanship. The board will consist of a chairman and not less than six or more than 10 other members. This development in the House today means that the calmly conducted emergency session of Parliament called to discuss defence will probably now blow up into one of the biggest clashes yet between the Government and the Opposition.

The Liberal Leader (Mr Clement Davies) asked Mr Attlee if he did not think it was absolutely essential at the present moment, in view of the international situation, to maintain as much unity as possible. He said it would be quite wrong to introduce a highly controversial political matter now. Mr Attlee replied: ‘‘Yes, and therefore we are carrying out what was passed by Parliament. We are carrying out the act, and I quite agree that if you and Mr Churchill will wholeheartedly support this we shall get real unity.”

Mr Churchill asked if Mr Attlee attached no importance to the fact that nearly a 2,000,000 majority of the electors had recorded their opinions at the last election against this measure of nationalisation.

Mr Attlee replied that Mr Churchill was ‘‘somewhat anticipating a future debate and harking back to a past one.”

Mr Churchill retorted by expressing his very great regret that the Prime Minister, with the responsibilities thai rested upon him, should have done ‘•this reckless, wanton and partisan act.”