NEWS OF THE WEEK TN less than three hours on
Wednesday the Government took complete command of the lives and liberties and property of every man and woman in this kingdom. Liberty of the subject has disappeared, so far as the Government may decide at any moment to curtail it. No dictator of a totalitarian State exercises, or could exercise, greater powers. The authoritarians have driven us into an authoritarianism which, if anything, ex- ceeds their own. Yet in fact, by what is only superficially a paradox, Wednesday's proceedings manifested democracy at its highest. What the Government asked for was accorded them, deliberately but unhesitatingly, by normal legislative process. The Emergency Powers Defence Bill was put before the Houses of Commons and Lords. Anyone who chose could have spoken on it. Anyone who chose could have opposed it. But recogni- tion of the wisdom of the Government's action was universal, and in granting the powers asked for without a division the two Houses were reflecting with unquestionable accuracy the spirit of the country. If this war is to be won every citizen must be ready to give all he has and all he is. Not all of that may be asked, but it must be available if it is. It has indeed now already been given to the Government, on deposit, to be drawn on when, and as far as, may be needed. The surrender is immense, but ungrudging. But in the exercise of the powers great vigilance will be necessary if injustices are not to be done and discontents aroused. The immediate use of the new Act to apply a twelve-hour day and a seven-day week in ordnance and other factories seems questionable. Such intensive effort may be possible for a week or two without impairing accuracy and efficiency, but the longest hours do not produce the greatest output. Industrial psychologists should be fully heard on this.
