IMPERIAL POLITICS

Timaru Herald, Volume XCIV, Issue 14393, 7 January 1911, Page 5

IMPERIAL POLITICS

TRADE UNION FUNDS ~ FOE POLITICAL USES. Press Association —By Tel. —Copyright LONDON, Jan. 5. In a spcecih in l November Mr Asquith said tho GoveniiiLont weire vnlling "U> allovy trades unions to ra.iee funds for Parliamentary anjd Municipal representations providing that thle opinions uf unions wer© effectively asoertainod. It is now staJted from an anthoritativa source that tib® pihrase "effectively asoortained" meant that the Governmetlb intends lliat thle view of Trad© Union members oonoerning affiliation with the political Labour Party shall be ascertained at a ballot wherein ast least eighty per cent, of the members, participate. LABOUR MEMBERS' PLEDGE. The "Westminster Gazette" regrets tliait t'ho Labour Party made concessions to extremists by modifying, instead of abandoning the pledge. So long as it was retained in any form it would bo a stumbling; block to those anxious for labour representation. HOME RULE. A REDMOND MANIFESTO. LONDON, Jan. 6. Mr Redmond is issuing a manifesto in the form of an article in tomorrow's " Reynolds' Newspaper," in which he declares that tho election has given Mr Asquith a clear and unequivocal .mandate, on the lines of his Albert Hall speech. He rejoices that the democracies, of Ireland and Britain understood each other, and aro now united. He declares that thore ; s no Ulster question so far, CTlstar Leing Protestant only 44 per ■ cut., and Catholics hold 16 of tho 33 i\ a asserts that the movement is national and not sectarian, and/adds that tinder Home Rule tho Protestant minority "will, have equal rights and liberties with Catholics,, who entertain feelings' of deep respect and affection for them. INDIAN ASPIRATIONS. Tie "Times'" Bombay correspondent states: —"Sir Heiiry Cotton's reference ■to Savorkar were read here with the utmost indignation imd amazement." ; THE. OSBORNE JUDGMENT. . The Management Committee of the Federation of Trade Unions, in connection with the Osborne judgment condemns any amendment of the Trade Union Act enabling minorities to avoid the effect of the decision of majorities. The committee argues that such an amendment ia calculated to introduce dissintegration, and to complicate accounts relating to contribution's and benefits. They emphasise that Trade Unions are voluntary organisations, and that -the legislature is not justified in interfering wiih the decisions of a majority relating to finance.