The National Government met Parliament for the first time on
Thursday week. Several new Ministers were absent, waiting for the passage of the Bill which will relieve them from the necessity of re-election. Sir John Simon, the new Home Secretary, led the House. In the House of Lords Sir Stanley Beekmaster took his seat on the Woolsack—
a position customarily of course, but not necessarily. held by a Peer. The Commons did not really fall to work till Monday, when there was a debate on the Bill to create the new Ministry of Munitions. The opposi- tion to the new Government which developed was con- siderable in volume, if not in importance. Several Liberals, Irish Nationalists, and Labour Members objected strongly to the proposals for compalsory industrial service which Mr. Lloyd George had made at Manchester. Unfortunately, Mr. Lloyd George was not present, being under the impression that by accepting the new office he had vacated his seat. The Speaker, however, ruled that Mr. Lloyd George was still a member of the House. Sir John Simon explained that the Bill creating the new Ministry provided for Orders in Council, which would be issued as necessity arose. Mr. Snowden informed the Government that if Mr. Lloyd George used his powers to fasten forced labour on the country, there would be bitter resistance. Mr. Dillon, Mr. Hobhouse, and Mr•. Crooke all protested against what they called conscript labour or slavery.
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