PUBLIC ORDER BILL

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 46, 18 November 1936, Page 11

PUBLIC ORDER BILL

Read Second Time Without Division DEBATE IN COMMONS London, November 16. ’ It wag the view of the police that the wearing of political uniforms was a source of special provocation in many areas, said the Home Secretary, Sir John Simon, moving the second reading of the Public Order Bill in the House of Commons. There was also a danger of the invasion of Parliamentary liberties by the creation of private armies, and the Government asked the House to deal with the situation before it became more serious. Mr. J. R. Clynes (Labour) said that Jews ought to be protected against malicious attacks. Sir Percy Harris (Liberal) said that his constituency, Bethnal Green, contained 29 per cent, of Jews, who had lived peaceably until six months ago when Black Shirts marched through the streets and stirred up trouble. Mr. D. Chafer (Labour) recalled that at the last election 200 Black Shirts marched to a meeting which he was addressing. “Tlie British Fascists adopt the same tactics as the Nazis of deliberately provoking Communists to riot,” said Mr. R. H. Bernays (Liberal). Several other Labour members, while supporting rhe Bill generally, feared that, the wide powers given to tlie police may be used against the workers In a legitimate struggle. Lieut.-Commander It. T. Bower (Conservative) said he thought the Bill did not go far enough, and referred to organised hooliganism at his meetings in the North of England. He said his wife’s shins had been kicked until they were black and blue. The last view he had of one meeting was of a drunken woman dancing on a Union Jack on a table. These rioters were not Communists, but ordinary supporters of the Labour party.

Mr. F. Kingsley Griffith (Liberal) said he felt sorry for Green Shirts who camo to meetings and asked harmlessly “What about Social Credit?” The obvious answer was “Well, what about it?”

Mr. W. Gallacher (Communist) said ho believed the Rill was the result of mass production by informers and agents provocateurs. There was once a march to Runnyinede. which the present Government would have declared illegal. Tlie Government already had power to stop slanders against Jews. The Bill was read a second time without a division. The Bill will probably be passed without division, fo r all parties in the House are prepared to support its general principles. It is rare that a major piece of legislation dealing with matters affecting nil political parties comes before the House without notice having been given of any single amendment, as is the case with this measure.