IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 6 May 1926, Page 9

IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS.

INTEREST IN G Ql J ESTIOiN S

GOVERNMENTS EMEIRGENC Y POWERS.

Received 12.25 p.m. to-day. LONDON, May 5

London’s discomfort, was completed by the. settling down of a dense fog, with an incessant drizzle. Interests, in the .events of Parliament was evidenced by the- early arrival at the House of Commons, of the Prince of Wales and the Duke of York, who sa.t together i.n the Royal Gallery and followed tiie questions with the closest attention.

Mr. #R). McNeill, Financial Secretary Oomimiiiider, answering, J. M. lvenworthv (Liberal) said that the Government had not considered the closing of the Stock Exchange during die crisis. Cbminiander Ken worthy: “Does the Government accept responsibility for the statements contained in the British Gazette?” Sir W. Joynsoin-Hicks, Home Secretary: “Yes, .and the cost in borne by the trea.surv.” Mr. E. Thurtle. (Labour) : “There is an a.rt.ieile in it attacking trade unions, f.s it- the Government’s intention to carry on propaganda, of this .sort?” Sir W. Joy n son-Hicks : “I must have notice of that question.” Mr. D. Kirkwood (Labour): “Isn’t this- the first indication that, the Government is embracing Socialism by running the press of the country?” The Speaker : “That is a question on which the members, may have i heir own opinion.” Sir \Y. Joynson-Hicks moved that approval he given to the .Emergency Powers Act. the regulations of which wore not operative if not approved within seven days. He asked that they be approved for a. month, after which, the whole country hoped an cx-’v-io-n would not. lie necessary. They did not prevent a man from, striking, but enabled the Government to take possession of land, buildings and undertakings for the benefit of the whole n ation.—Reuter. ELECTRIC POWER FOR LONDON. MEASURES TO PREVENT DISORDER. Received 1.35 p.rcu. to-day. LONDON, May 5. In the House of Commons, Sir W. Joynson-Hicks said that the twentyfirst regulation related to sedition, in the main lines regarding incitement to mutiny and disaffection, was an adaption of the existing common law, with the difference that it could he dealt with summarily. Regulation 33a gave great power to deal with newspapers. The police could enter any building suspected of printing and publishing any document calculated to cause a mutiny, sedition or disaffection among th© forces or civilians. Furthermore, it authorised measures to secure the supply and distribution of foodstuffs and necessaries. These

powers were vital at the moment to the nation’s life. He had already issued orders for the maintenance of electric supply, transport of motor spirit, and the continuance of the railway services. The railway position was improving, and likewise the buses. Most of London’s power stations were working admirably. Only- 33 per cent of naval ratings and 12 per cent of volunteers had hitherto been used therein. Five power stations were not working so well. The pou'er supply at. London Hospital was cut off to-day, but the Ministry would take steps to correct such things. The food supply was going on well, and the Government would do its utmost to protect those carrying out their legal avocations. “I appeal to all able-bodied men to protect the community in this time of difficulty and danger,” he said. Mr Thurtle: “Will you deal with article 22, taking away the right of public meetings?” Sir W. Joynson-Hicks: “That regulation prohibits meetings likely to cause grave disorder. The police learned last night that Deptford Communists, with the National Unemployed Workers’ Committee and the Internationale class war organisation, were holding meetings with a view to organising an immense procession to march to the heart of London tonight. This is likely to cause a breach of the peace, so I directed the police to prevent the procession. The country at the moment is steady.” Sir W. Joynson-Hicks quoted Mr MacDonald’s 1912 book on Syndicalism,, wherein he said that he was against a general strike, which was not a weapon of reform, but which hit the poor heavily, the middle class less, and the rich least of all, and that society would organise against it. RE-OPEN NEGOTIATIONS. MR. HENDERSON’S APPEAL. CONCILIATORY SPEECHES. Sir W. Joynson Hicks continued: —■ “That is what I wish to emphasisetime is on the side of law and order, and if w© stand fast we will see a way out of the difficulty.” Mr Henderson asked : “Was the Home Secretary aware that Mr Baldwin on Saturday evening received a definite offer from those responsible and who were ab’e to give every assistance* to those matters to which Sir W. Joynson Hicks referred. One would have thought the Government would have said, as the responsible union leaders had never ceased to say, that they were prepared to negotiate to find a formula by which the whole business could be terminated. It was no use being told they were in a state of war. The Government was not even prepared to ta’k to find a settlement. If that were going to continue to be the Government’s attitude, then the position in this country in the next few days was going to be such as to baffle the imagination of everybody. He was as alarmed at the position as any Conseravtive. He believed that even now the House should lend its energies to see whether it could not get back to where they were at one o’clock on Monday morning. H© believed the negotiations would have gone on if the news had not come that a certain newspaper had been interfered with. It should be the business of all sections of the House to return to that position, to see if the trouble coukl not be settled by reason, and not by force. —Reuter. ZTNOVIEFF’S COMMENT. MOSCOW, May 5. ‘‘Great Events in England!” is the heading of Zinovieff’s article in the Soviet press, in which he declares: “The principal danger to British Labour comes from the right wing leaders who have joined the movement for the purpose of betraying it. Mr Baldwin’s aeroplanes and organisation for the maintenance of supplies are not half so dangerous as MacDonald, Thomas and company.—A. and N.Z. Assn. TAKING IT COOLLY. Received 1 p.m. to-day. PARIS. May 5. All newspapers comment on the remarkable coolness of the British public in the present crisis.—Reuter.