TRADES DISPUTES BILL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21242, 24 January 1931, Page 11

TRADES DISPUTES BILL

SECOND-READING DEBATE. CONSIDERABLE OPPOSITION. (British Official Wireless.) (United Press Association.) (By Electric Telegraph-Copyright.) RUGBY, January 22. (Received Jan. 23, at 5.5 p.m.) The second-reading debate of the Trades Disputes Bill, which for some months has been the subject of acute controversy, was opened in the House of Commons to-day. Opposition has been aroused by proposals to amend the Act of 1927, notably the articles dealing with the levy by trade unions for political purposes and the definition of intimidation regarding the political levy. The Bill proposes to restore contracting out, for which the recent Act substituted contracting in. This and other features were criticised at a meeting last night of the Parliamentary Liberal Party, which decided by a majority to abstain from voting on the second reading and press for amendments when the Bill reaches the committee stage. In moving the second reading, upon which a division will be taken on Tuesday, the Attorney-general (Sir William Jowitt) said that strikes and lock-outs were barbarous methods of settling industrial disputes and were liable to inflict widespread loss and suffering. A real safeguard against violent revolutionary changes lay in a deep-rooted belief in justice and equality all round. Mr Baldwin moved the rejection of the Bill.