TRADES UNIONS BILL

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19844, 19 May 1927, Page 7

TRADES UNIONS BILL

FURTHER DISCUSSION Lockouts Put on Same Level as Illegal Strikes USE OF THE GUILLOTINE [By Telegraph—Per Press Assn.—Copyright.] Received May 18, 5.5 p.m. (A. & N.Z.) LONDON, May 18. In the House of Commons, Sir DougLas Hogg, in moving an amendment to 'the Trades Unions Bill, which, he said, made it clear exactly what sort of strikes the Bill made illegal, was received with Labour snouts of / 1 Clear as mud. ’» After much interrupting, he moved amendments making illegal strikes calculated to coerce the Government by inflicting hardship on the community. Sir Henry Slesser (Labour) said that Labourites deplored all strikes, lockouts, and disputes, but the Government amendment put every sympathetic strike of any dimensions in jeopardy, because all strikes caused hardship on the community. He appealed to Sir Douglas Hogg to stay his restless revolutionary hand, the Government was throwing dust into the industrial machine, and had been coerced into the introduction of a monstrosity. A Libera] Joke. Sir John Simon (Liberal) said that although the Government had honestly tried to improve the language of the clause, it was still unsatisfactory. He added: "When. I heard they were searching Arcos I wondered whether the missing document was a definition of a general strike.” Closely questioned, by Messrs Lloyd George, J. H. Thomas and J. R. Clynes on the subject of sympathetic strikes, Sir Douglas Hogg expressed the opinion that if a strike was vrithin a trade or industry it was directed at the employer and it would not be affected. He admitted that a strike of railway men and transporters in support of a strike of miners could only be designed to bring pressure on the Government to intervene. Such a strike would be illegal or illegitimate, apart from the bill. Replying to Mr Lloyd George, he said if railwaymen refused to handle coal during a mining strike and if the effect was to inflict hardship on the community to such an extent as to coerce the Government into intervening, it would be illegal under the Bill. Mr J. Wallhead (Labour) interjected: “Then there would never be a sympathetic strike in aid of miners.” The Sympathetic Strike. Sir Douglas Hogg said if the effect was to bring pressure on mine-owners it would be perfectly legal; if it was an attempt to coerce the Government, it would be illegal. Mr E. Thurtle (Labour) said the sympathetic strike had become an essential part of the right to strike. They would never get the great mass of the people to carry out a strike uniless the conditions of the industry they were seeking to support were deplorable.

1 Sir Douglas Hogg, replying to the [debate, said the measure did not make i a sympathetic strike illegal. When the time for the guillotine arrived the Government admendments were put from the Chair and carried by 297 votes to 156 aniMl Labour cries of "Gag” and loud whistling and some singing of songs. The amendment declaring a lock-out illegal in terms simitar to that dealing with strikes was carried by 306 to 135. CHANGED THEIR MINDS THE LABOUR WALK-OUT I MEMBERS CENSURED BY CONGRESS Rceived Mav 18, 11 p.m. (A. & N.Z.) LONDON, May 18. “Behind Labour members’ amendment of their theatrical attitude on the Trades Unions Bill lies the rank and file’s resentment of the Executives impulsiveness, says the Evening News.

“The decision to walk out of the House of Commons was given effect to before the rank and file were aware it had been arrived at.

To-id,ay the Trades Union Congress gave a cold douche to the executive when it discussed whether the boycott should continue. It was pointed out that the absence of Labour members from the Chamber enabled the Liberal and Conservative industrialist members to propose amendments which tho Government was prepared to accept afterwards, enabling the movers to claim credit for making the Bill acceptable.

It was argued that Labour could not afford to allow its opponents to adopt the role of the champions of hto workers.