Decisions Facing Government

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 70, Issue 117, 2 March 1950, Page 5

Decisions Facing Government

“The King’s Speech next week will show how the Government interprets its obligation to put forward a programme of necessary and uncontrov-i ersial measures,” says “The Times” hi a leading article. “If it discharges its obligation faithfully, it will be equaly the obligation of the Opposition to assist the passage’ of essential business without seeking' to take an unreasonable party advantage of the Government’s trammels. “The nation undoubtedly needs a . breathing space, and another deadlock at the polls might De much worse than the first; but the argument against a protracted Parliament, even with a tacit working agreement, is that it v ould probably 'be too much for human (and political) nature to sustain. Neither side, whatever its sense of responsibility, will wish to lose ground or fail to gain it in the voters’ eyes.

“A suppressed' election campaign xvill, in effect, be going on all tlie time, outside as >vell as inside tiie House of Commons, against ’be day when the electors are asked to reconsider, this time in the light of the deadlock, the votes which they cast in almost equal numbers last week. Almost certainly the Government’s own inclination will be to end an intolerable state of affairs as soon as its immediate responsibilities to the nation can be met.” There is considerable speculation about whether the Government will

make any definite move to clarify its attitude towards the nationalisation of the iron and steel industry.

Full legislative authority for the State acquisition of these industries already exists. It cannot, however, become effective until the Government nominates members of the Iron and Steel Corporation, the body which, it is proposed, will take over the administration of the industry.

The present act lays it down that this cannot be done before October 1, and that the formal acquisition of shares in all nationalised . iron and steel companies shall not be accomplished before January 1, 1951. In November, 1949, when the Labour Government agreed to defer the vesting date beyond the General Election, the Minister of Supply (Mr George Strauss) told the House of Commons that the Government would make no approaches to men who might serve on the Iron and Steel Corporation “until after we have emerged into the calmer atmosphere which should follow the election of- the new Parliament.” . It is generally assumed from this that the Government will make no immediate steps to make the Iron and Steel Act effective. Should the life of the present Parliament extend beyond October 1, however, a definite move will have to be made by the Government,, either to appoint the State corporation or further to defer its appointment.