14 APRIL 1923, Page 2

On Monday the chief business before the House was a

Government Bill to enable Special Constables to be enrolled without there being a probability of disturbance in the neighbourhood concerned. The Labour Party opposed the Bill and seemed nervous of " the Specials " developing into A nucleus of Fascisti or Ku Klux Klan. Since both these :organizations were formed by private individuals in opposition to the Governments of their , countries, the simile was not a very happy one. It is surely very bad- tactics for the Labour Party to oppose any measure making for law and order. After all, they are now •the -recognized Opposition and presumably contemplate taking office, in which case, as Commander Locker-Lampson -pointed out, they will probably -be extremely glad of all the instruments of government which they find ready for them. By opposing this sort of Bill, -which they can hardly pretend to believe is a sinister effort to " take away their liberties," they certainly weaken the belief which the ordinary citizen now undoubtedly entertains—that they are a responsible political-party, intending to govern by ordinary Constitu- tional -means.