IMPERIAL POLITICS

Timaru Herald, Volume XCIV, Issue 14457, 1 June 1911, Page 5

IMPERIAL POLITICS

THE OSBORXE BILL. Press Association —By Tel.—Copvrigjht. LONDON, May 31. In the House of Commons, Sir Rupert Isaacs moved the second reading ol the Osborne Bill. AKMV MESSING. Colonel Seely in reply to questions, read a letter in which Mr Robson, formerly counsel opposed to Colonel Morgan, who was recently appointed Messing Adviser, declares that it now has become clear that Colonel Morgan was 'a most vigilant, unsparing and ; high]y effective guardian of tlio public interest against tho contractors during the South African war. A LABOUR BILL: Mr Lansbury, Socialist member for Bow, introduced a Bill providing for a weekly day of rest, making May Ist a bank holiday, and securing a week's holiday for workers, and payment of wages on public holidays. THE OSBORNE BILL. Received 11.40 p.m., May 31st. LONDON, kay 31. The Osbojue Bill was read a second , time' by 219 to 18. Mr F. Smith said : the Bill wcrald satisfy nobody. It gave no protection for minorities, but he believed it was amendable. Mr Churchill evoked a demonstration of disapproval on expressing an opinion that the Courts were biased, doubtless j unconsciously, in dealing with questions involving class or party issues. He said the Government was erecting a bulwark between the Courts and Unions. %

The "Chronicle" draws attention lo a danger lurking in the Government's Osborne Bill. It recalls the fact that trade unions are not necessarily workmen's combinations. Masters may register as a trade union if their principal object be the regulation of the relations between masters and workmen. Therefore the present Bill authorises the masters to raise a political fund to pay candidates' expenses.