TRADE UNIONISM

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19768, 16 February 1927, Page 7

TRADE UNIONISM

NEW LEGISLATION DISCUSSION IN THE COMMONS USE OF GENERAL STRIKE WEAPON [By Telejrraph—Per Press Assn.—Copyright.] Received Feb. 15, 6.50 pun. LONDON, Feb. 14. The debate on the Address-in-Reply w’fts resumed in the House of Commons to-day. Mr J. R. Clynes, the Labour leader, moved an amendment on the industrial proposals, and arid the Government was attacking trades unionism without having a mandate to do so. In seven byelections since the general election, the pro-Government vote totalled 73,000 and the antiwGovernment vote 109,000. It would be better, therefore, to lehve the question to the judgment of the electorates. Mr Clynes maintained that the trades union officials had shown themselves to be as serviceable and effective as any on behalf of industrial peace. The general strike was not the result of agitation, but of the miners’ lock-out. Since 1921 trades unionism had been consistently on the defensive. The Govenrment encouraged wage reductions, but did not discourage aggressive action on the part of employers. There was no country in the world where industrial conditions were better than in. England, or where disputes were fought out with greater commonsense. Mr Baldwin said he was particularly anxious to have the discussion, in order to get the views of the whole House. Mr Ramsay MacDonald j&id he considered that the Government should immediately reply, in order that the House might be aware of its intentions. It would be bad Parliamentary practice if the Government no word of reply till the end of the debate. Sir John Simon (Liberal) said the Labourites would have to make up their minds whether they defended the general strike as fen instrument for use in trade disputes. If they did not, a good deal could be said for leaving the whole thing alone. The proposed legislation would not attack the heart of the industrial problem. It resembled the Hague Convention—defining rules of war when what was wanted was to inculcate a spirit that would prevent war. It would be far better if the union movement were reformed from within. Mr Clynes’ amendment was defeated by 313 votes to 135.