IRON AND STEEL BILL: FATE OF INDUSTRY WILL DEPEND ON OUTCOME OF THE GENERAL ELECTION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27241, 18 November 1949, Page 7

IRON AND STEEL BILL: FATE OF INDUSTRY WILL DEPEND ON OUTCOME OF THE GENERAL ELECTION

New Zealand Press Association—Copyright

Rec. 10.30 p.m. LONDON, Nov. 17. The House of Commons agreed last night the nationalisation of the iron and steel industry should be held up until the electors had an opportunity of giving their decision at the general election. If Labour wins, the Iron and Steel Bill will be put into operation. If the Conservatives get a majority one of their first steps will be —as Mr Churchill put it—“ to expunge from the Statute Book this wanton, wasteful, and partisan measure which many of those associated with it do not in their hearts believe in.” Mr Churchill demanded an early election to remove the uncertainty which, he said, was damaging Ihe national effort.

Mr Churchill said that the Government’s decision to postpone the nationalisation of the iron and steel industry until after the. general election did not alter the Conservatives’ to this measure. Mr Churchill said it was the duty of the Prime Minister to curtail uncertainty about when the election would come. “ Everyone knows this Parliament is dead.’’ he declared. “A new Parliament would have a much better chance of getting us out of our dangers and difficulties,” he said. Earlier, the Supply Minister, Mr G. R. Strauss, had announced the Government’s proposed alterations in‘the Bill to nationalise the iron and steel industry. He said the alterations would make the date for the operation of the Bill October, 1950—after the general election —and that for the actual handing over of industry to the State the date would be January. 1951, at the earliest. Mr Churchill said the Opposition would not oppose the Government’s amendment. He thought the House of Lords, which had refused to pass the Bill with the date tor operation as May, 1950, would agree to them. He was very glaS the issue had been presented in so clear-cut a form to the electors. “We are content with that —it is almost a referendum,” he said. The Leader of the House, Mr Herbert Morrison, said the date for the election was a matter for speculation. “ It will come when it comes,” he said, but he denied that the postponement of the Steel Bill had anything to do with the date. The postponement of the Bill had been forced on the Government by the attitude of the House of Lords.