THE OSBORNE JUDGMENT.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1137, 26 May 1911, Page 5

THE OSBORNE JUDGMENT.

■ i ■.ii A ' NEW BRITISH 'BILL. Us Telecraph-Press Association-Oopyrieht 4 London, May 21. Mr. Churchill, the Homo Secretary, has introduced in the House of Commons a Bill to enable trades unions, after passing a special.resolution, to use the machinery of the measure for the purpose ol' political action and to devote a portion 'of their funds thereto. A proviso protects individuals notifying any union Of their objection to such expenditure. ... Tho; Labour M.P.'s are not ; wholly satisfied with the proposal, inasmuch as Labour has consistently demanded a complete reversal of the Osborne judgment. WHAT THE LABOUR PARTY WANTS. , The Labour party's Bill for dealing with tho situation created by the Osborne judgment was introduced into the. House of Commons in February. The Bill is a simple one, e'ontaiiiing only one operative clause, which roads as follows:— "A trade union as defined by Section 16 of the Trade Union Act Amendment Act, 187(i, may, notwithstanding any of the provisions of the Trade Union Acts, 1871 and 1876, either acting by. itself, or in conjunction with any other trade union, asi sociation, or bodv, apply its funds for or towards the purpose of procuring the return and providing forthe maintenance of members of Parliament, or public or local authority, or of .any other public body, and may do such other acts as may be neces.sary to further the interests of workmen by political action or otherwise." It will be seen that the Bill makes no mention of legalising lories,to which oxco.ption was taken by Mr. Osborno and his friends. It is intended that unions shall merely claim the right to use their general funds for political purposes, without recourse to a special levy. In this way it is hoped to avoid any difficulty arising from the problem of the minority Man who has a conscientious objection to paying the levy. Several unions, including the Amalgamated Society of Carpenters and Joiners, have adopted schemes for securing Labour representation which adopt the principle of the conscience clause, allowing members who notify the Secretary in writing to claim exemption from the .levy for political purposes. It was recognised that this action on the part of powerful unions like the Joiners was bound to influence the debates.