BRITISH UNIONS BILL

Taranaki Daily News, 7 April 1927, Page 9

BRITISH UNIONS BILL

LABOUR’S STRONG PROTEST COUNTRY-WIDE CAMPAIGN “WILL FIGHT EVERY INCH” By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. London, April 5. Labour’s international differences have been pushed into the background and all shades of opinion, from Mr. Ramsay MacDonald to Mr. A. J. Cook, are united in opposition to the Government proposals in the Trade Unions* Disputes and Trade Union Bill. The first indication of consolidating the opposition to the measure was given when the Defence Committee of the Trade Union Congress asked the congress to convene a special conference in connection therewith. Meantime the industrialists are conferring with the Parliamentarians for the purpose of fighting every inch of the way in the House of Commons. Mr. Ramsay MacDonald describes the proposals as the most dangerous expression of class war ever known. Mr. Clynes said: “It is twenty times worse than I ever thought could be brought down. It will crash all the recent efforts to produce a feeling of goodwill in industry. It is a first-class gift of the best material to the Communists for stirring up trouble in industry.” Mr. A.,J. Cook regards the proposals as a definite declaration of war on the whole of Labour, political and industrial. It will, he says, create a greater conflict than that of last year. Mr. Thomas states that the Government" has united Labour. Mr. Citrine, secretary of the Trades Union Council, states that the entire working class is united to oppose the dangerous attack and plans are maturing for a vigorous campaign throughout the country. The leaders of the civil servants and post office employees are equally bitter, and declare it may be found that such bitterness has been engendered in the country by the violence of the measure that the Government may hesitate to enforce it. Though the official Liberal view has not yet been fully considered there is a tendency among individual Liberals to regard the Bill as not in accord with Mr. Baldwin’s pica for peace in industry. They feel that such a far-reaching measure should be referred to a Royal Commission representative of the views of all the parties concerned. Received April 6, 7 p.m. London, April 5. The Labour Joint National Council has passed a resolution expressing its determination to oppose the Trades Union Bill as a deliberate attack designed to deprive the workers of resistance when assailed by organised employers.