Controls—for Five Years
The Government having stated insistently that they do not desire "controls for controls' sake," it is astonishing that they should i have taken precisely the course which appears to contradict that statement. The powers which they are asking Parliament to confer on them under the Supplies and Services (Transitional Powers) Bill, undesirable as they would be in normal times, are for the most part justified in the period of transition from war to peace ; but because they are abnormal, and depend on the circumstances of this chang- ing period, they ought to be granted for a short time only, and renewed if necessary as circumstances may require. In war-time these exceptional powers of control were astced for year by year ; the Government, resisting the amendment which would have fixed the period for two years, requires a carte blanche to continue the con- trols for five years. Why? Because it does not want to encourage false hopes, and because it wants to work to a five-year plan. There need be no objection to a five-year plan, but there would be a very grave objection if the carrying-out of such a plan were not frequently under review by Parliament. If the plan was proceeding well, and controls were still needed, the powers could be continued. If, on the other hand, Parliament was not satisfied with operations under the plan, plan and controls alike would have to go. That is plain logic, but the Government, of course, controls the division-lobbies. Its first use of its power is not reassuring.
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