QUESTION OF PROCEDURE

Evening Post, Volume 65, Issue 65, 17 March 1924, Page 7

QUESTION OF PROCEDURE

SEQUEL TO GOVERNMENT'S DEFEAT.

(ttEDTER'S TEJ.I9.IAM.) ' LONDON., 14th March, _ As the outcome of yesterday's defeat, i>'i!'. 3. JR. Clynes has lodged a motion Ui:it until the end of the financial year il.">vernmcnt business shall have" precedence at every sitting. The motion, if carried, will permit the Government to. take private'members' time on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and may resuit in the shelving of the Miners' Bill, ths second reading of which is due. The House of Commons, by 211 votes to 129, rejected the second reading of the Trade Union Act, 1913, Amendment Bill, providing that when a trade union carries a resolution in favour of political action the members desiring to contribute support to political objects shall indicate the desire in writing, and shall not, as heretofore, be automatically included as supported unless they contract out. In moving the second reading Captaiu Charles Ainsworth (Con.) said that the object of the Bill was to prevent trade unions from insisting on members paying contributions for political purposes in which they did not believe. Hb asserted that members at present seeking to contract out were intimidated. He referred to wealthy Cabinet Ministers, thp, foundation of whose wealth in many cases was derived from trade union funds. Mr. Tom Smith (Lab.) moved the rejection of the Bill. He declared thai, the reason fov th o Bid was that the Conservatives were anxious in regard to tha progress of tho Labour Party. Ho danied the allegation of the victimisation. If trade unionists' political activities were hampered they would be compelled to rely more on strikes.