We have taken out of their order the more important
incidents in the debate of Wednesday, May 5th, and we may add here that the object of the debate was to sanction the regulations under the Emergency Powers Act of 1926 for a month. There was, of course, the expected amount of criticism from the Labour benches, but the Home Secretary who moved the regulations, was able very easily to justify them not only by the obvious necessity, but by quoting what Mr. Ramsay MacDonald had said in 1924. Mr. MacDonald had then pointed out that it was essential for a Government in times of trouble to be armed with powers in order to be able " to continue the public services " and " to protect all who were engaged in their legal employment." Mr. Hender- son made the particularly feeble criticism that there was no need for regulations as the trade unions had offered to run the essential services. He declared that the very thing should be done to which Mr. MacDonald had said that no responsible Government could ever consent. * * * * *
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