Churchill’s Biting Attack On The ‘Dictator Bill’

Greymouth Evening Star, 14 August 1947, Page 7

Churchill’s Biting Attack On The ‘Dictator Bill’

LONDON, August 12.

The long debate in the House of Commons on the Transitional Powers Bill—it has been called “The Dictator Bill” —was notable for some spirited exchanges by Mr Churchill with the Labour’ benches, and also with the Lord President of the .Council (MrHerbert Morrison). Mr Churchill declared that the Bill meant that Parliament was asked to give a wave of support to serfdom in peace time, without even the protection of Parliamentary legislation. “That is what we shall have to tell the people when we see them on the platforms of the country—any one of you may be taken from your homes at- any moment and from your employment and sent off anywhere. Some obscure official in a Government department may decide where you have to go,” he declared. “Turtle Dove Cooing”

Mr Churchill continued: “That is the power you are asking. The Government fears to bring this very grave mattei’ before Parliament by recognised legislative measures. It hoped to sneak it through at the fag end of the debates last week and then have power, without a bill in Parliament, over the whole of the lives of the working people of this country power such as no Government in this island has ever dared to, demand, except when the enemy’s bayonet was at our throats.” Mr Churchill said he was very sorry for the Lord President of the Council (Mr Herbert Morrison), who began the afternoon in a most meek and mild mannex- like the cooing of a turtle dove in spring. But it was afterwards felt that he must hurry up and put himself in line with the Left Wing elements in his party. “Rebuff at Hands of Party”

“I certainly do sympathise with him,” Mr Churchill continued, “because I understand he has receivec

one rebuff aftei' another' at the hands of his party, and I see now that neither he nor the Prime Minister, with all their great positions, are the men who decide what legislation shall be introduced.” Mi’ Churchill also said that the Socialist Party had _ made themselves opponents of the Communist theory, and what was the result? “You have neither the efficiency of collectivism, nor the enterprise and energy of individual intiative,” he said. “To try to sweep away private property and to say that anybody is a spiv or a drone who thinks he has, at any rate, the right to wear his own pair of trousers; to do that under the loose provision of this clause is an outrage on Parliament, and if we were to consent to it we should be unworthy of holding our places here. “The Government tells us, ‘Oh, these powers do not mean anything. You know us well. We have never been able to do anything with anything very much’—-(laughter)—but we have no right to count either upon their follies or theii' weaknesses. Reference to Hitler “Our reputable Home Secretary (Mr Chuter Ede) the other night used bad language, very similar to that which was in the mouths of Hitler and his associates. I do not think the honourable gentlemen opposite are likely to be second Hitlers. They may use his words, but they have not got his guts—(loud Opposition laughter)—nor, I am glad to say, his criminality.” During the, course of his reply, Mr Herbert Morrison referred to, Mr Churchill as “a most interesting psychological case.” He added: “He could roll round with the most dictatorial powers when he was -Prime Minister, but if any other guy comgs along wanting anything approaching the powers he had, he is a Hitler, a dictator and a tyrant.” Mr L. D. Gammans (Conservative) suggested that as an austerity gesture there should be a cut in the salaries of Ministers and members of Parliament.

“There should be equality of sacrifice,” Mr Attlee replied. “Members of Parliament do valuable work, and I do' not think it right to single them out.”