GENERAL STRIKE

Grey River Argus, 14 February 1946, Page 4

GENERAL STRIKE

NEW BRITISH LEGISLATION. (Rec. 9.5). LONDON. February 13. Hard hitting by both sides marked the first day’s debate in the Commons on the Government’s bill to repeal the 1927 Trade Disputes and Trade Unions Act. The AttorneyGeneral, Sir H. Shawcross, moved the second reading. He said it was completely false to say this Bill is intended lo legalise a general strike and to compel trade unionists to contribute to the Labour Party’s funds against their will. The Bill, he said, legalised nothing that was illegal in 1927. He added: “A revolutionary strike aimed at overthrowing the Government byforce, was always, and would be under this Bill illegal.” He described the Conservative Party’s campaign against the Bill as characterised by political misrepresentation and chicanery. Mr A. Eden said there could be no public advantage in repealing the statute which firmly stated that a general strike was illegal, and in thus restoring the old state of uncertainty in the matter. This Bill in no way assisted, and if anything it was calculated to hinder, the great tasks confronting the country. It was pure party politics for pure party ends, unworthy of the men sponsoring it.