THE CREDITS BILL

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 13, 15 July 1939, Page 9

THE CREDITS BILL

READ SECOND TIME

THE LABOUR ATTITUDE

(Britis* OfßciftJ Wireless.)

(Received July 15, 11.15 a.m.)

RUGBY, July 14.

The BUI increasing the guarantee power of the Board of Trade to enable credits totalling £60,000,000 to be given to friendly foreign countries for armament and other purchases -in the United Kingdom was given its second heading in the House of Commons without a division.

j The debate was notable for a declaration by the Labour spokesman, | Mr, F. W. Pethiek-Lawrenee, ' who, speaking of the figures of expenditure tend loans attributable in the last re- | sort to defence needs and policy, said that they were of fantastic dimensions, but members should not conceal from themselves that they might not yet be. at the end, What, he asked, was the position of the Opposition in face, oi such facts and prospects? And he answered that they were like people living in a house and realising that those in charge were at last taking steps to make it unlikely that conflagration would byeak out. Mr. Fethiek-Ldwrence added that they still thought that if fire broke put it would be due to the Government's lack of understanding in days gone by, and if it spread it would be due to the Government's failure to make earlier provision for extinguishing fires in the earlier stages, but if a fire did threaten to occur it would no longer be a question as to who was to blame but of getting all hands to assist. Because the Labour Party loved the country and because it believed in democracy and liberty at home and. throughout the world, the Opposition gaid to th© Government: "If you are really going forward, make provision now to put out a fire should it break out; we are bound to give you our help."