HUBBUB IN COMMONS

Chronicle (Levin), 5 March 1947, Page 5

HUBBUB IN COMMONS

Press Assn.-

Cries of "Dictator" By The Opposiiion PROGEDURE ON BILLS

By Telegraph

■Copyrighi

Received Tuesday, 9.15 p.m. : LONDON, Mar. 4. An uproar in the Commons followed a Government motion proposing that the committee stage of the Transpon Bill and Town and Country Planning Bill should be completed by April 2 and also that three days for t.he report stage and one day for the th.ird reading should be allotted for each Bill. There was a loud sustained burnt of ironical cheering by the Opposition when Atr. Greenwood, Lord Privy Sealj submitting the motion said: "This is a new experiment resting on the authority of this house." Opposition members shouted: "Call it the Reichstag and be done with it. ' Considerable uproar followed an iiiterchange in which Afr. Greenwood said there were ' 'potential fuhrers ' ' aniong the Opposition, and Mr. Alackesun shouted back: '/Mr. Greenwood may as well understand that I regard him as a low elass Fascist. " The Opposition cry of "come on Hitler, " greeted Mr. Greenwood when he rose to resume. He said the Trans port Bill standing committee had dealt with only Ave clauses in 1 1 sittings. The Government intended to avoid an autumn session. Air. Eden: "I am absolutely' amazed that a Socialist Government should say we niust use the guillotine because we eannot have an autumn session." Air. Churchill, whose speech was interrupted by loud Opposition eheers and counter eheers, said he was astouished that the prineipal measure of the session — the Transport Bill — was not going to be taken on the floor of the House, thus denying six-sevenths of the House the right of intervening. "1 lirmly believe that the liberties aud free life of Britain are in great danger at the hands of the Government," he said. The Government was i attempting to strangle Parliamentary debate and substitute • for it legislation by Governnient decree. Mr. Slater said the volume of legislation was such that had the Afinistry of Fuel not been so burdened with legislative' preparations, the power crisis might have- been averted. The Governnient motion was carried by 289 to 150 votes. The announcement of the figures oecasioned Opposition shouts of "Hitler," "Reichstag," " Dictators. " Government supporters 'retorted with "You can't take it." The hubbub lasted live minutes.