Sit-Down

Margery, barmaid to the House of Commons, poured a double Scotch for dour, flushed parliamentary Labor Party Boss Arthur Greenwood. Sipping, he sighed: "That blasted bill! Ehh, what a life!"

"That blasted bill" embodied the Churchill Government's first legislative step toward the postwar reconstruction of Britain. It had also faced Arthur Greenwood and his Laborites with a choice between: 1) swallowing their principles;

2) wrecking the Government Coalition;

3) doing nothing. Prudently, they chose to do nothing.

Land Dilemma. In the midst of the blitz, Winston Churchill had heartened Britons with the promise that their ruined cities would rise "beautiful, resplendent, Phoenix-like from the ashes of the dead." Since then, the cities and towns had been busy turning hopes into blueprints. Before the House was the Government's proposal for translating the blueprints and Churchill's promises into buildings.

The Laborites were in a dilemma. As a party they were committed to a policy of land nationalization. Now they were asked to approve a bill which evaded the whole issue of nationalization, left the primary responsibility for planning in the hands of innumerable city, town and county authorities.

To a man, the Tories favored the bill.* Laborites, Liberals, Independents damned it as a device of big property owners. Said paunchy, practical Laborite Lewis Silkin: "This bill abandons any possibility of national planning." Cried Socialist Captain John Dugdale: "The landlords are readier to sacrifice their sons than their property." Replied Tory Lady Astor: "God help you. That is a most repellent point of view."

Rather than crack the Coalition at mid-invasion (and probably commit party suicide). Greenwood & Co. simply resolved not to vote. Labor Minister Ernest Bevin propelled his big bulk across the House floor, stopped in front of Greenwood Grated Bevin: "So you won't vote, eh?" Greenwood grinned at him, turned with a grin to the nearly 200 Laborites ranged behind him, sat tight. So did they. Once again, they were in revolt against their own leaders in the Government.

The bill passed. But Labor's sit-down made revision and more fights certain. Said the Manchester Guardian: "The Government has emerged from what might be called a reconnaissance in force into very difficult territory."

* For another debate on town planning, see ART.

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