TRADES UNION BILL

Otago Witness, Issue 3818, 17 May 1927, Page 29

TRADES UNION BILL

THE COMMITTEE STAGE. LONDON, May 13Although called to order several times for irrevalency, Mr Jack Jones spoke without expletives on the next amendment to the Trades Union Bill. He declared: ‘‘l don’t believe in a general strike. I believe in a general election. A general strike as a means of solving a social problem is general nonsense : but the whole right to strike is being taken from the workers.”

The process of applying the closure and defeating amendments ,vas continued until 3.40 this morning, when the House adjourned.

LITTLE PROGRESS MADE. . LONDON, May 13. Owino; to the Labour members’ obstruction seven words of the Trades Union Disputes Bill have been discussed and passed by the House of Commons in committee in 18 hours.

The Government is, therefore, determined to use the guillotine on Monday, when a time limit motion will be submitted, allotting 12 days for the committee stage, thr&e days for the report stage, and a single day for the third reading. 0

SPEECH BY LORD BIRKENHEAD.

LONDON, May 14. “There is a great fight before the Conservatives, but we are ready for it,” said Lord Birkenhead, referring to the Trades Union Bill when addressing the Junior Imperial League. He said that the Labourites’ uproarious tactics were already reflected by the elections, where Ministerialists were shouted down. “If they continue,” he added, “we shall not be found helpless. We have the ingenuity to provide a remedy. Our opponents are imagining that we are going to fight a critical election without an opportunity of arguing the merits of the Bill. They little understand the traditions and temper with which the Conservtives approach such a struggle. The sinister phenomenon of influential leaders taking their orders from foreigners requires every lover of England to r .lly to her under an assault from disloyal sons.”

Lord Birkenhead added that the changes in the Chinese chessboard had reduced Mr Chen to a pawn. His best plan now -would be to visit England and join the Labour extremists, and he would probably be elected to Parliament just as M. Saklatvala hag been.