THE SECOND CLAUSE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19847, 23 May 1927, Page 7

THE SECOND CLAUSE

TRADES UNIONS BILL Guillotine Again Applied in Committee “HEROES OUT OF BLACKLEGS.” [By Telegraph—Per Press Assn.—Copyright.] (A&N.Z.) LONDON, May 20. The House of Commons spent the day discussing tho second clause of the Trades Union Bill, which forbids unions to expel or in any wise penalise members who refuse to participate in illegal strikes. The Labour members objected, saying it would make heroes of blacklegs. Sir Douglas Hogg (Attorney-General) pointed out that employers were in the same position, since lockouts were included.

Mr. J. A. Thomas (Labour) emphasised the point that the executives of most unions insisted that none of their members should be victimised for not taking part in last year’s strike. He complained that the clauses were being discussed from a narrow legal viewpoint, while big business men outside realised that the nett effect of the Bill would be to check the good relations between employers and workers, and cause a more serious setback to trade than the general strike. Miss Wilkinson (Labour) said that the clause invited men to act like Judas. They compelled their fellow unionists to find 30 pieces of silver.

Lord Inskip (Conservative) replied that the clause did not prevent unions expelling members out of harmony with their fellows, but it provided and gave those expelled the benefits to which they were entitled. The clause was amended to give a penalised trade unionist the right to counsel, and was made retrospective to May 1, 1926.

Then the guillotine was applied and the clause was carried by 275 votes to 120.