IN PARLIAMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 23 May 1940, Page 6

IN PARLIAMENT

EMERGENCY 811/L m- 1 .• ,>t •<■•.•; ■> . • A DRASTIC MEASURE.. (Per British Official Wirelfess.) (Received this day at 10.30 a.m.) - ‘U.J.foW RUGBY, May 22. Major Attiee informed ,thq House today. that the present situation was so critical that the Government was compelled to seek special powers by a bill to be. passed through all stages of both Houses to-day. . .. . ; f‘A great battle is now proceeding. Our men are fighting on sea, land and in . the air -with sp lend ideour age, devotion and spirit. The result of that battle we cannot know, bqt it must be clear to all that the next , few vveeks are critical ones. Our ruthless enemy, is Restrained by no considerations of international law, justice or humanity, and is throwing everythingyintp the scale to force a decision. We are resolved he will not succed. The Govern- - merit is convinced now. is the .time, we must mobilise to the full, the whole resources of this country. .. We. must, rhroiv all our .weight into the struggle. Every private interest must be given to the urgent need of the community. We cannot know what theinext. few weeks or. .even days may bring forth,, but whatever may come, we shall meet it as a British people, in .the past met dangers , and overcame , them, .but it is necessary the Government should be given complete control over persons and property : —not . just some persons or some particular class of the community, but all persons, rich, poor, men and women. • '. .. ‘II do not ask these powers in any spirit of panic. There is no need for panic.”. . . .... Sir Percy Harris said nothing would give this country greater confidence, than that the Government .was.prepared, to take action rapidly, and even .against all constitutional practice and Mr Attlee ipiniediately .moved . the second reading, of the Emergency ers Defence Bill, the operative part, of which he explained, vpas. an .extension of tlie Emengency Powers Defence Act. 1939;.; ' The powers conferred by the, .bill, in - elude requiring , persons,to place themselves, tlieir services and property at the Stafies’s ' disposal. The Minister of Labour will be. empowered to direct, any person to perform any service required.. - . •‘That did not necessarily mean in factories only., It applied to everyone No one could tell who might, be required to dig defences or do anything else.-” .;. The Minister Would prescribe the remuneration, hours and condition. The hill deals also with control of property. Some establishments may be controlled altogether aWa’y,- find ioUiers Thasr he controlled'-later. v. - The Excess Profits Tax is St the rate of one hundred per .cent.. There .will he no profit made out of the national emergency. .... , >w . ; , ... “The essential thing is over a wide field ■, of , industry—flow wide it is impossible to say. at the moment- - industry will be carried on for the community in effect, and not .for private profit. < . * —' • EMERGENCY BILL PASSED. BY COMMONS AND LORDS. r .. LONDON, May 22. In the House of Commons, the Emergency. Powers Bill passed all stages, without divisions. It was later passed by the House of Lords.