THE PROHIBITED LEVIES

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 14525, 12 November 1910, Page 7

THE PROHIBITED LEVIES

REVERSAL OF VERDICT URGED

By Telegraph.—Tress Association.—Copyright. London, November 10. Delegates to the number of 433 are attending the Congress of the General Federation of Trade Unions. The Labour party is holding a conference at Westminster. ' Mr. Ramsay Mac Donald, M.P., moved a resolution that the immediate reversal of the Osborne verdict should be made a test question at every election. Mr. Smellie, on behalf of the Miners' Federation, moved to delete the words " made a test question," but this was rejected. The chairman stated that the London Compositors' Union contained a large percentage of members who were indifferent, and would need to be flogged into action. The original resolution was carried with one dissentient. The Manchester Guardian states that the cotton operatives of Lancashire are divided over the Osborne judgment, and a fair percentage are indifferent. The Blackburn Weavers' Association resolved by a large majority in favour of not taking any steps to reverse the judgment.

PAYMENT OF MEMBERS. English papers to hand by yesterday's mail show that the question of payment of members of Parliament has, chiefly as the result of the much-discussed Osborne judgment, which made compulsory trade union levies for these purposes illegal, as inflicting hardship on members holding political views opposed to those of the chosen members, become one of the chief topics of the day in Great Britain. Special interest attaches in this connection to the views of members of the greater British communities, among whom the payment system has long been in force. Lord Tennyson, interviewed on this subject by the Morning Post, replied :—"(1) For several reasons the Government, of Australia could not be carried on without payment of.members. (2) But I believe that payment of members in. the Imperial Parliament (a) Would lower its prestige, would be almost fatal to-Imperial unity, and (b) would involve strenuous continual struggle for'mere local interests, arid consequent indifference to the broad interests of the Empire; (c) that, judging from experience of paid Houses throughout the world, the salaries would grow more extravagant; and (d) that such payments would not open the door wider to working men, but to the "carpet bagger" and professional politicians. On the other hand, general elections are a national business, and if national payment of official election expenses could be combined with the abolition of canvassing, this might meet the present difficulty."