§ THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURYMy Lords, I venture to ask your leave to put a question to the Leader of the House of which I have given him private notice. It is as follows: Whether the attention of the Government has been called to the anxiety which is felt by a large section of opinion in the country as to the suggested want of observance of Good Friday in the present week. If it be necessary in the exigencies of the war that work on munitions should not be interrupted even on that day, I would ask how far the Government desire that this change in immemorial practice should be applied not only to those working on munitions but generally throughout the country, and whether they would wish to make a further statement on the subject. There is no doubt about the immemorial practice in this country. For centuries Good Friday has been set apart as almost if not altogether the most sacred day in the year, and the practice has, I think, been universal for all that time that it should have this due respect. But I recognise, as all your Lordships do, that the exigencies at the present moment are such that these very desirable practices should be intermitted for essential war work. None of us would desire to say anything else. Indeed, in the circumstances, I am sorry somewhat that it appears in the public Press that even Monday is to be set apart for holiday-making.
But nevertheless one feels that that applies to war exigencies, to the making of munitions. I think all of your Lordships must feel that this is not a time when religious observance should be treated with disregard. Any of us who were present during the services on the Sunday of intercession must have been satisfied how true it is that the people of this country in these great circumstances naturally turn to their religion to help them. It does seem rather strange that 1016 as between two days—one Good Friday and one Easter Monday—the modern Easter Monday should be selected for a holiday and all the religious observances of Friday should be treated of less account. I hope the Government will not think that I am criticising them for a moment in insisting that necessary war work should be carried out even on that day, but I do venture to ask how far it is necessary that it should be extended beyond munitions work to all other employments, and I hope that the Government may be willing to make a statement on the subject. I am told that even the Stock Exchange is to be opened on Good Friday. I cannot think that the Stock Exchange is at all necessary for war exigencies, and certainly the proceedings of the Stock Exchange, though entirely respectable, are not peculiarly suitable to Good Friday. Therefore I ask the Government whether they can make a statement on the subject.
§ VISCOUNT FITZALAN OF DERWENTMy Lords, before my noble friend replies I should like to say that I endorse every word that has fallen from the noble Marquess.
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (LORD MOYNE)My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Marquess for having raised this question. We all recognise that there is a very strong feeling of disappointment that ordinary facilities for religious worship upon Good Friday are inevitably interfered with by the decision which I think was forced upon the Government without any real alternative. But I am very glad to have this opportunity of explaining that the-Government could not possibly approve of the normal and traditional arrange merit for the Easter holidays. I think it is also very necessary that it should be made plain how far this decision applies, and that it is only intended that this advice of the Government should be applied to war service. The Government were naturally anxious to get as much interruption for the purpose of recreation and rest from the normal hard work on war production as was consistent with output and would not mean any slackening of the war effort.
It was found that both Friday and Monday could not be afforded as holidays. The noble Marquess expressed his 1017 regret that advice had been given to close on Monday and he would have preferred us to close on Good Friday. I think there are very good reasons on industrial grounds for the Government to have chosen Easter Monday as they could not afford both days. They have had in mind the danger of industrial fatigue. Workers in munition industries have responded to the national appeal and have been willing to undertake very long hours under very fatiguing conditions, and it is really consistent with the maintenance of output that a reasonable opportunity for a break should be afforded. We were advised that it would be much better to get the longest possible break, from midday on Saturday until the start of work on Tuesday rather than to have two breaks—namely, on Good Friday and on Sunday, with work in between them. There is besides the risk that if you stop on Good Friday and open again on Saturday just for half a day, a great many industrial workers will take the holiday from Good Friday morning till Tuesday morning.
It is not intended that all employers without exception should feel bound to keep their works open as usual on Friday. When it is quite clear that there will be no adverse effect on war production from a partial or complete stoppage on Friday there is no objection. In the case of retail shops it may be clear that in many cases partial or complete closing is the right plan, but all such shops should be kept open to the fullest extent likely to be necessary to meet the essential need of those working. With regard to the position in Scotland, Scottish banks will be closed as usual on Good Friday, but that day is not a public holiday there.
The notice issued on March 29 deals, of course, with the problem of war production; it lays emphasis on the position of war industries, which must be kept open, rather than on the non-essential industries which the noble Marquess wishes to see closed. But we have to bear in mind that the various branches of war effort are inextricably interlocked War production is very widespread nowadays and involves all kinds of ancillary services, and the needs of the workers must be supplied while the factories remain at work. For this reason the catering trade to feed them and the banks to pay them will be performing a very 1018 valuable service. I am glad to have the opportunity of saying that the Government do not wish industries that are not employed on war work to keep open on unnecessary work, and it may be plainly understood that it is not unpatriotic to close on Friday provided that that is not in any way going to interfere with war output. It has often been said that in this country we were too slow in getting into our stride and before the collapse of France we were too much imbued with the holiday spirit. The noble Marquess has made it plain that he does not wish to interfere in any way with war production, but this notice which has been issued has been so framed as to make it clear that we realise that war production must come first. It would have been very unfortunate if there had been any appearance that we were thinking of normal holidays when our Forces and the Forces of our Allies are fighting a critical battle in the Near East.