The second-reading debate on the Public Oreer Bill in the
House of Commons on Monday was a remarkable proof of the unanimity with which all parties, except the Communists and the I.L.P., approve the main princi- ples and purpose of the Bill. The Home Secretary himself agreed that the Bill imposed-some restrictions on existing liberties, as indeed it must. But it is important that those restrictions should not exceed what is necessary, and the Government seems ready, as it should, to accept amendments on that point in Committee. Opposition centres on four points and the sections concerning public processions are held_ to give the police excessive powers ; the powers of arrest at public meetings do not give the ordinary _citizen sufficient protection against improper police. action ; the responsibility, laid. on organisers of political parties of proving that " adherents ". guilty of abusive language or provocative behaviour do not in fact belong to the party gives a dangerous opportunity to the agent-provocateur ; the power- of prohibiting political demonstrations may too easily be misapplied. All these points can be adequately dealt with in Committee.
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