PAYMENT OF MEMBERS.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 14324, 29 September 1910, Page 3

PAYMENT OF MEMBERS.

DISCUSSION IN BRITAIN. AN INTERESTING POSITION. By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright. LONDON, Sept. 28. There is wide discussion in political circles regarding, the payment of members. Mr. P; Smith, in a letter to the newspapers, says that legislation to repeal the Osborne judgment would threaten to prevent Liberal and Conservative working men from earning a living, unless they finance political doctrines they dislike. He was reluctantly forced to the opinion that payment of members is the only alternative. Mr. Arthur Lee recalls the fact that the Unionist leaders repudiated .payment of members during a debate on May 12, 1909. THe Daily .News twits the Conservatives with their sudden conversion, and adds, in regard to the Osborne judgment, that payment of members, is only a temporary palliative. The Daily Express states that payment of members is the open grave of the objectors,to the Osborne judgment, but it is the lesser of the.two evils. The Manchester Guardian congratulates Mr. Smith , on his persistent efforts to' galvanise the corpse of Tory democracy. Doubtless, it adds, he is inspired by the hope of a groat increase in the number of “Tory Protectionist working-men candidatesThe Times is convinced that payment of members is inevitable and still less desirable. It agrees with Mr. Leo that the advocacy by the Unionists of payment of members is a cynical exhibition of opportunism, and must do the ■ Unionist Party ham at the polls.

[lt will be remembered that the Osborne judgment made it unlawful for unions to raise levies for the support, of members of Parliament. The natural solution of tho difficulty appears to bo the . payment of members, , but the . union leaders do not like this proposal, as it would leave Labour members comparatively free to take their own line. They - therefore demand legislation to put tho unions in tho same position as they wore before tho judgment, as this will enable them to exorcise full control over tho policy of tho Labour Party.] PRESS COMMENTS. (Received Sept. 29, 9.10; a.m.) LONDON, Sept. 28. The Daily Telegraph accuses the Conservatives of dodging the Osborne decision by payment to members, which is perilously like time serving and bound to lie harmful to the party stooping to it...... . ■,.■■■ Tho Daily Mail advocates tho payment of election expenses and also making .it .open to poor members iof the House to claim salary from the Treasury. MINERS’ VOLUNTARY PAYMENTS. LONDON, Sept. 28. In Lancashire and Cheshire miners’ associations have been formed to collect political levies hitherto paid to tho Lancashire and Cheshird Minors’ Federation, \ ■ (Received Sept. 29, 12.55 p.m.) LONDON, Sept. 28. The Nottingham Miners’ Association has followed the example of Lancashire t and Cheshire, awaiting tho restoration of the unfettered use of union’funds.