TRADE UNION FUNDS

Otago Witness, Issue 3149, 22 July 1914, Page 14

TRADE UNION FUNDS

PUTTING CHAINS ON THE WORKER. (Fkou Ouh Own Coebespondhnt.) WELLINGTON, July 15. The Hon. Mr Fisher made a very able speech in the House to-night in answer to some remarlis by the Labour members on Mr Hindmarsh’s Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Amendment Bill, which provides for the bringing of the employees of chartered clubs under the Act. During the discussion the Labour members got away from the purpose of the Bill and talked a great deal about the control of union funds. The Prime Minister maintained that to permit unions to use their funds at the dictation of a majority for political purposes would be to divert these organisations from their intended purpose. Mr Fisher took the wav into the Opposition camp, and said that unionists were now resigning because of the action of officials, and the officials were now making it very awkward for them by charging them £5 to resign. “It reminds one,’ Mr Fisher said, “of Artemus Ward’s show. You went in for nothing and paid sixpence to come out. (Laughter.) There is going to be a greater question,” Mr Fisher added. “ Both in Great Britain and here the question is being discussed of whether trades unions should have the right to put chains round the workers and to take away the liberty of the sub iect ” Altogether the restrictions were becoming so great that soon men could exercise no freedom at all. It was a question whether Parliament was going to give the movement any more power over the individual. Mr Webb made a rather feeble reply to the Minister and got pulled up by the Speaker for referring slightingly to the recent appointees to the Upper House, and also for wandering away from ' the subject.