The Trades Disputes Bill.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXII, Issue 7024, 12 November 1906, Page 2

The Trades Disputes Bill.

PASSAGE THROUGH THE COMMONS.

Londok, Nor 10 la the House of Commons the Trades Disputes Bill was read a second time without division. The surprise of the sitting was Me Balfour'a declaration that it was too late to change or reject the Bill, and that he waa i unwilling to imperil benevolent funds. The Government might have dealt with the latter separately. After he had expressed his misgivings as to the result the measure would have, though not m the immediate future, Mr Balfour emphasised the fact that the employers' spokesmen m the Commons had not expressed a dislike to the Bill. Unless they wpre foolishly and meanly silent because fh. y relied on its rejection by the House of Lords', it mast be assumed that they did not think their interests were assailed. He trusted that Snglishmen?s good sense m the past would again be shown m the moderate use of the exceptional powers conferred by the Bill. Sir J. Laweon Walton (Attorney-Gen-eral) and Mr E. Bell appealed to Mr Balfour to use his influence to secure the passage of the Bill through the House of Lords. The" Daily News " declares that Mr Balfour hints that the House of Lords will swallow the Trades Disputes Bill conditionally upon the Education Bill being wrecked. The " Daily Mail " advises tHe House of Lords to pass the Trades Disputes Bill, leaving the common people to learn wisdom by bitter experience. The " Times " Bays that the House of Lords would be absolutely justified m rejecting the Bill, but the tactics of the majority m the House of Commons may lead them to take another course. The " Morning Post " blames the Unionists for disregarding the reasonable demands of Trades Unions two years ago,resnlting m the formulation of unprincipled proposals later.