POLITICAL TUSSLE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 21933, 30 January 1946, Page 5

POLITICAL TUSSLE

BRITISH JSEBATES SOCIAL LEGISLATION MR. EDEN CRITICISED (Special Correspondent.) (11 a.m.) LONDON. .Tan. 29. Parliament to-day began its first biS debate on the principles of nationalising one of the country’s basic, industries when the Coal Industry Nationalisation Bill came up for its second reading in the House of Commons. The subject is regarded as one of such importance that both the Government and the Opposition are mustering the strongest possible team, and the Conservatives have issued a three-line whip to rally all members against the bill. A Majority Certain The debate will last two days. It is certain that the Government will secure a majority for the second reading, after which the bill will be discussed in committee. It can be expected to be law by the end of the summer. In addition to the clash of policies, particular interest attaches to the debate since the Minister of Fuel and Power, Mr. E. Shinwell. will be making his first big Ministerial statement, and Mr. Anthony Eden his first speech as the temporary Leader of the Opposition. . Another sharp fight is anticipated in the House of Commons shortly when a bill to repeal the Tracies Dispute Act comes before it.

The passing of this bill will restore the law as it stood before the general strike of 192 G. Members of trade unions will be compelled to “contract out” of the payment of the political levy to the

funds of the Labour Party, instead of, as at present, “contracting in.” Sympathetic strikes will become legal, so that unions not directly concerned in a dispute can strike in support of other unions.

Unions of which civil servants are members will be empowered to affiliate with the Trades Union Congress. Government servants will thus be enabled to take part in a strike. “Righting an Injustice”

The Prime Minister, Mr. C. R. Attlee, has stated that the restoration of the bill will put right “after 18 years an Act of singular injustice and reaction, and return trade union rights, of which they ought never to have been deprived.” The Conservatives have decided to .fight the bill at every stage, arguing that to lift the ban on a general strike is to undermine the Constitution. It is interesting to observe the attitude of Lord Beaverbrook’s Daily Express to Mr. Eden at a time when he is assuming temporary leadership of the Conservative Party. Already Lord Beaverbrook’s Evening Standard has practically declared that Mr. Eden is r.ot the most suitable successor to Mr. Winston Churchill.

Now, because Mr. Eden in a speech supporting the Conservative candidate at the Preston by-election merely denounced the Labour Government for failing to give the nation a post-war lead, which he declared it needed so badly, and made no reference to the American loan, Bretton Woods or Imperial preference, the Daily Express accuses him of a “sealed lips policy.” The newspaper adds; “This is not leadership. It is the negation of leadership.”