LABOUR OPPOSITION.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume XXIV, 6 April 1927, Page 5

LABOUR OPPOSITION.

TO GOVERNMENT’S PROPOSALS.

STRONG CRITICISM.

(Per Press Association—Copyright)

LONDON, April 5.

Labour’s differences have been pushed into the background and all shades of opinion, from Mr Ramsey Macdonald to Mr Cook, are united in opposition to the Government proposals.

The first indication of the consolidation of the opposition was given when the Defence Committee of the Trades Union Congress asked Congress to convene a special conference in connection therewith. In the meantime the industrialists are conferring with the Parliamentarians for the purpose of fighting every inch of the way in the House of Commons.

Mr Macdonald describes the proposals as a most dangerous expression of class war ever known. Mr Clynes says: “It is twenty times worse than I ever thought could be brought down. It will crash all recent efforts to produce a feeling of goodwill in industry. It is a first-class gift of the best material to the Communists for stirring up trouble in industry.” Mi’ Cook regards the proposals as a definite declaration of war on the whole of Labour, political and industrial, and will, he says, create a greater conflict than last year. Mr Thomas states that the Govern ment has united Labour.

Mr Citrine, secretary of the Trade Union Council, states that the entire working class is united to oppose a dangerous attack, and plans are maturing for a vigorous campaign throughout the country. The leaders of the Civil Servants and Post Office employees are equally bitter, and declare that it may be found that such bitterness has been engineered in the country by the violence of the measure that the Government may hesitate to enforce it. The official Liberal view has not yet been fully considered. There is a tendency among individual Liberals to regard the Bill as not in accord with Mr Baldwin’s plea foESL peace in industry. They feel thank such far-reaching measures should®

be referred to a Royal Commission representative of the views of all the parties concerned.