COMMONS PASSES RACE BILL

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31728, 11 July 1968, Page 17

COMMONS PASSES RACE BILL

Party Line Defied By 44 Tories (N.Z.P.A.-Reuter —Copyright) LONDON, July 10. Opposition backbenchers revolted against the official Conservative Party line in the early hours of this morning by voting against the Labour Government’s controversial Race Relations Bill in the House of Commons. The measure, which legislates against radical discrimination in jobs, housing and other fields, passed through its final stage after an all-night debate, by 182 votes to 44, a Government majority of 138.

The rebels included many prominent Right-wingers who objected to their leadership’s change of policy. The party had opposed the bill with a reasoned amendment when it first was debated in the Commons last April.

The measure, which was approved after a Parliamentary sitting of 14 hours 39 minutes, must now be approved by the House of Lords before it becomes law.

The Opposition “shadow” Home Secretary (Mr Quintin Hogg), winding up for the Conservatives, was at one stage shouted down by his own backbenchers. He said he was dismayed at the racialist public feeling that had been expressed since the second reading of the bill.

In his final speech for the Government, the Home Secretary (Mr James Callaghan) said: “The health of our society Res in the declaration of the principle that, whatever view we may take about

people coming in, once here they must be treated as equals.” Earlier, Mr Callaghan had described the measure as “an attempt to forestall the growth of black slums,” among Britain’s one million coloured immigrants.

The bill Imposes penalties on persons found guilty of discrimination on the ground of race in such fields as housing and employment It also creates special courts in which people can claim damages for any loss they suffer through racial discrimination. The rebel Conservatives felt that the legislation would not promote racial harmony, and they doubted Its practical effects. Nine of them are members of the 18-strong executive of the influential “1922” Committee which, on Monday, tabled an amendment for the rejection of the third reading. Among the Conservatives opposing the bill was Mr Enoch Powell, an outspoken critic of continued coloured immigration into Britain. He did not speak in the debate, and his silence brought taunts from Labour backbenchers. Critics of the bill argued that it could turn minorities into a privileged class, capable of alleging racial discrimination If they failed to get the house or the job they wanted. The official Conservative policy was to abstain from voting, but 44 Opposition members defied their party leader (Mr Edward Heath) and forced the vote. Senior party members are furious about the revolt, which they Interpret as ■ direct attack on Mr Heath’s leadership.