ACRIMONIOUS DEBATE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16338, 12 May 1927, Page 11

ACRIMONIOUS DEBATE

TRADES UNION BILL SOCIALIST OPPOSITION (Eleo, Tel, Copyright—United Press Assn.) (N.Z., and A.P.A., and Sun.) (Received May 12, 3 p m.) LONDON, May 12. The opening of the committee stage of the Trades Union Rill resulted in a series of acrimonious discussions until the Government applied the closure to the debate. The first Socialist movement took the form of Sir Henry Slesser moving the insertion of the words, "for the purpose of removing doubts" before the initial words of the Act reading, 'it is hereby declared." Sir Henry agreed that the opening declaration of the Act actually reversed tho present law, as there was no statute which ever made it- an offence IV>r men to refuse employment. Sir Douglas Hogg, m replying, pointe.l out- that it would not- he illegal for a man to refuse employment if the Bill were passed. A strike, as defined in the Bill, was not a cessation of workby an individual, but cessation by a body of persons acting in combination. Incidentally, Sir Douglas Hogg described Sir Henry Slesser's speech as largely irrelevant, causing an uproar ami Labor accusations that Sir Douglas was not telling the I ruth. When the. debute was resinned, Sir John Siinon expressed tin' opinion thai tlie amendment was quite harmless. The strike of the past year was not addressed solely to the promotion of a trade dispute, and there was no reason why it should not be made plain why ibis legislation should be enacted after four hours' debate. Sir Douglas Hogg moved the, closure, amid haul cries of "Gag." The closure was carried by 294 votes to 153, and the amendment rejected by 302 votes to 152, some Lnborites singing "John Brown's Body" and oilier' songs during the division.' When the debate adjourned for private business the. first wefrd of ihe Bill was still not reached. BIRKENHEAD DEFIANT LONDON, May 2. The Secretary of State for India, Lord Birkenhead/ivho assisted 10 members of Cabinet to address meetings of the Trades Onion Dill during the week, sneaking at Manchester last night, said that Labor's ,".000 meetings at tho week-end-—even Mil,ooo of them —would not; terrify the Conservatives. "We say, hold your meetings, blow your trumpets, unfurl your Red flags! " he declared. "Despite all, the Bill is going to be passed. We are only correcting trades union license, which would not lie tolerated in any civilised country," lie added. The Bill, Lord Birkenhead continued, would not be greatly modified, but the Government was prepared to accept reasonable amendments. Fundamental features of the measure, however, would not be changed.