OPPOSITION ATTACKS MOVE TO USE NATION'S RESOURCES IN CRISIS

Chronicle (Levin), 12 August 1947, Page 5

OPPOSITION ATTACKS MOVE TO USE NATION'S RESOURCES IN CRISIS

(N.Z.P.A. — .

Reuter,

Copyright)

Received Tuesday, 11.15 a.m. LONDON, August 11. v. v When the House of Commons werit into committee on the Sup'p.ies and Services Bill, which the Government has introduced to deal with the economic erisis, Mr. Churchill said the main discussion would be upon the sub-section which sought to ensure that the whol'e of the resources of the community were -available for use, and were used in a manner best calculated to serve the interests of the community.

The Opposition moved an amendment to remove that subsection, the meaning of which they contended was in doubt. Mr. Churchill and the Attor-ney-General, Sir Hartley Shawcross, clashed about the interpretation of the Bill and the Ccnservative amendment. Sir Hartley Shawcross said that doubts about the Bill's purpose existed only in Mr. Churchill's mind. Mr. Churchill retorted that his legal adviee came from men whose credentials were at least equal to those of the persons the Labour Party had been able to attract by the prizes of office. The Labour Commoner, Mr. Blackburn, said he would vote with Mr. Churchill because the amendment made it clear that the intention of the Bill was merely to remove doubt about the continuance of the Government's powers. Mr. Herbert Morrison said he could not understand what all the fuss was about. The amendment was redundant. Mr. Churchill said the Bill was intendcd to pillage the well-to-do, enslave the poor and give the Government power to do this without an Act oi' Parliament. Sir Hartley Shawcross said he i'elt that what really clisturbed the Opposition was the possibility that further steps might he taken against employers, or property or wealth. The Bill gave the Government " power to ensure that all rer.eurces, not only in manpower, were used for the country's benefit. The Conservative amendment was defeated by 256 votes to 125.