PAYMENT OF LABOUR MEMBERS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 9934, 24 August 1910, Page 1

PAYMENT OF LABOUR MEMBERS.

THE OSBORNE JUDGMENT.

A 810 DEMONSTH ATION

NEWSPAPER COMMENTS. United Press Association —By iiiectric Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, August 23. The Joint Labour Board resolved to nrthor discuss the Osborne judgment it. the coming Trade Union Congress. Mr Ramsay Macdonald, in an interHew, said that a big demonstration •ras preparing against the judgment. Be would address twenty-nine gat-her-Liiers before Christmas. 'The " Times" describes yesterday's resolution as a decision to exercise pressure upon the Government by stumping the country and making the Osborne judgment the loading political issue. The injunctions secured by varijus Unions against the use of Union lands in support of the Labour Party affect sixteen Labour inemoers of the House of Comiionp. but pavment of member,s ivould not satisfy the Labour wirepullers. They want to control the Unions. Public opinion re volts _at the klea of compelling a Trades Unionist to pay for the maintenance of a party jvhose' polit'V ho detests. The " Clr. micle,'*' in recommending ' the paymern of members, deprecates an agitation vbr immediate legislation reversing the Ivhole judgment. Such legislation, it nays, is neither feasible nor desirable, but some legislation regarding the political status of Trade Unions is possibly necessary, whereas nnv attempt fo coerco every member of'a Union would be a restriction and a denial of free'electoral rights.