COMMUNISTS BUSY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19827, 29 April 1927, Page 7

COMMUNISTS BUSY

SEEK ANOTHER STRIKE Drastic Steps Proposed Against Trades Union Bill CABINET MINISTERS THREATENED Received April 28, 8 pjn. (A and N.Z.) LONDON, April 28. Although the Communists have been expelled from the Labour Party, many still belong to trades unions. The Communist Party sent them an urgent secret circular, instructing them to attend the conference of trade | union executives which will plan a campaign against the Trade Union Bill. The intention is to advocate another general strike on a larger scale than last year if the ’Bill is ’not withdrawn within a given period. Another suggestion is a melodramatic walkout from the House of Commons by the Labour members and the transfer of trade union funds abroad, but all Labour members agree that there is not the least likehood of the conference accepting any Communist recommendation. The Trades Union Congress, in conjunction with the Labour Party, has issued a manifesto against the Bill, which will be read at 3000 May Day meetings throughout the country. The Daily Telegraph’s Parliamentary correspondent reveals that one or two members of Cabinet have received threatening letters in connection with the Trade Union Bill.

AN AMERICAN VIEW BILL AGAINST ALL BRITISH TRADITIONS. MAY LEAD TO ANOTHER UPHEAVAL. Received April 28, 9 p.m. (A. & N.Z.) NEW YORK, April 28. Mr. William Green, of the American Federation of Labour has issued a statement condemning the British Trade Union Bill. He says the character of tho proposal, and tho method of giving it effect, arc completely at variance with English tradition and experience. He is confident that public opinion will not support a policy of retaliation or vengeance. Mr. Green points out that the American Labour movement has such fraternal relations with British Labour, that the welfare of the British workers comes very close to their hearts, and it is with genuine concern therefore that they regard the Conservative Bill, which virtually repeals the Trades Disputes Act 1906. The statement adds that the experience of facts has certainly brought the British trades unions to realise the unwisdom of the general strike, but a recurrence of the general strike procedure could not be more surely guaranteed than by the enactment of the proposed measure, which will deny to the wageearner the methods and agencies necessary to work out economic problems through economic means.