BRITISH TRADES UNIONS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19563, 16 February 1927, Page 11

BRITISH TRADES UNIONS.

PEOPOSED LEGISLATION. LABOUR OPPOSES REFORMS. DEBATE IN PARLIAMENT: HOSTILE MOTION DEFEATED. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received Feb. 15, 5.33: p.m.) A. and N.Z. LONDON. Feb. 14. The debate on the Address-in-Reply was resumed to-day in the House of Commons. The Labour, member for Manchester, Mr. J. R. Clynes, moved an amendment regretting tie reference in the King's Speech to proposals fur defining and amending the law regarding industrial disputes, as an indication of the intention of the Government to continue its partisan policy as shown in recent industrial conflicts, and to diminish the power of j organised labour to resist encroachments on the already inadequate standard of living of the workers. While the mover was speaking the Prince of Wales and Prince George entered the House and took their seats over the clock. • Defence of Trades Unionism. Mr. Clynes said; the Government was attacking trades unionism without having a mandate to do so. At the seven by-eiec-tions which had been held since the last general election the pro-Government vote totalled 73,000 and the anti-Government vote 109,0QQ. It would- be better, therefore, to leave the question to the judgment of the electorates. 'Mr. Clynes maintained that trades. union officials had shown themselves to be as serviceable and effective as any on behalf of industrial peace. The general strike was not the result of an agitation, but of the lock-out of the coalmiuers. -Since-1921 tcades unionism had been consistently on the defensive. ' The Government encouraged reductions in wages, but did not discourage aggressive action on the part of the employers. There was no country in the world where industrial conditions were better than they were in England, or where disputes were fought out with greater commonsense. Reform From Within Advocated. The Prime Minister, Mr. Stanley Baldwin, said he was particularly anxious to have this discussion in order to ascertain, the views of the whole House. The Leader of the Labour Party, Mr. Ramsay Mao Donald, said he considered the Government should immediately reply in order that the House might be aware of its intentions. It would be bad Parliamentary practice if the Government said no word in reply to the amendment until the end of the debate. Sir John, Simon, Liberal member for the West Riding of Yorkshire, said the members of the Labour Party would have to make up their minds as to whether or not they intended to defend the general strike as an instrument for use in trade disputes. If they did not a good deal could be said for leaving the whole thing alone. The proposed legislation, said Sir John would not attack, the heart of .the industrial problem. It resembled the Hague Convent:on in that it defined rules of war when what was wanted was to inculcate a -spirit which would prevent war. It would be far better if the trades union movement were to be reformed from within. Defeat of the Amendment. Mr. J. H. Thomas, Labour . member for Derby, taunted the Government, saying that when it was in difficulties it always Isoked to Sir John Simon to come to the rescue. It was absurd to talk about danger in connection with Labour's party finance. He suggested that all this parties in the House should not only produce the balance-sheets of their party runds, but state how the money was produced. He advised the Government not to go on with this measure, but if it did the Labour Party would substitute another at the first opportunity. The Attorney-General, Sir D. M. Hogg, closed the debate. Referring to mass picketing he pointed out in at there had been 6000 convictions under the emergency regulationsTlie Government was willing to consult Labour opinion in regard to trades union legislation, but if the proposal tor consultation were refused, the Government would not hesitate to protect trades unionists and the whole nation from injustice, tyranny and abase. Mr. Clynes' amendment was deieated by 313 'votes to loS* The closure was applied and t~e Address to the Throne was agreed to.