LIBERTY IN PAWN

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20254, 23 May 1940, Page 7

LIBERTY IN PAWN

ANCIENT RIGHTS UNITY OF NATION RESPONSE BY UNIONS EXTENSION OF HOURS (Elec. Tel. Copyright-United Press Assn.) (Reed. May 23, 2.30 p.m.) LONDON, May 22. Tlie Emergency Powers Defence Act. the treachery bill and other measures taken in the past two days revolutionise life in Britain, but as The Times aptly sums up: “At a grave moment the united nation feels no hesitation or misgiving although the new Act comes near suspending every essence of the constitution which has taken 1000 years to build. Our ancient liberties are placed in pawn for victory. Nothing less than tlie destruction of Hitlerism will redeem them.” Even as the bill made a record high speed passage through Parliament, its implementation was in hand. The Minister of Labour, Mr. Ernest Bevin, was meeting 60 representatives of employers and workers and outlining the Government plans. An Order-in-Coun-cil was simultaneously being drafted for presentation to Parliament tomorrow. The railways have arranged weekday schedules for week-ends. Eleven-Hour Day Clydeside, one of the biggest munitions centres of the country, has accepted plans for continuous working until the end of the war, the workers undertaking to work from 8 a.m. till 8 p.m. with only two halfhour breaks for meals The whole trade union movement is marshalled behind the Government, pledging its hard-won liberties in the fight for the liberty of the nation itself. The Trade Union Council declared: “There will be no haggling over anything necessary for victory.’’ The Trade Union Council General Council met Mr. Bevin and the full executive of the British Employers’ Confederation passed a resolution giving whole-hearted co-operation. The Minister of Supply, Mr. Herbert Morrison, has instructed all Royal Ordnance and contractors works engaged on urgent Ministry of Supply contracts to work full time seven days weekly until further notice. Most ordnance factories are now working two 12-hour shifts daily.