PUBLIC ORDER BILL

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 120, 17 November 1936, Page 12

PUBLIC ORDER BILL

PASSED BY COMMONS

PROTECTION OF LIBERTIES

DANGER OF PRIVATE ARMIES

United Press Association—By Electric Tele'

2ruplj—Copyright.

(Received November 17, 2 p.m.)

LONDON, November 16.

It was the view of the police tnat 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. Chater (Labour) recalled that at the last election 200 Black Shirts marched to a meeting which he was addressing.

"The British Fascists adopt the same tactics as the Nazis of deliberately provoking Communists to riot," said Mr. R. H. Bernays (Liberal).

I Several other Labour members, while supporting the Bill generally, feared that the wide powers given to the police may be used against the workers in a legitimate struggle. "ORGANISED HOOLIGANISM." Lieut-Commander R. 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 came to meetings and asked harmlessly. "What about Social Credit?" The obvious answer was, "Well, what about it?" Mr. W. Gallacher (Communist) said he believed the Bill was the result of mass production by informers and agents provocateurs. There was once a march to Runnymede which the present Government would have declared illegal. The Government already had power to stop slanders against! Jews. . The Bill was read a second time without a division.