The Waikato Times With which Is Incorporated The Waikato Argus- WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY IS, 1931. TRADE DISPUTES ACT.

Waikato Times, Volume 109, Issue 18256, 18 February 1931, Page 6

The Waikato Times With which Is Incorporated The Waikato ArgusWEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY IS, 1931. TRADE DISPUTES ACT.

The Trade Disputes Act is before the British House of Commons. It has passed its second reading and is in committee. It is in reality an amending Act. In 1926 a general strike took place which failed ignominously. It had excited a good deal of fear and some inconvenience, and it was recognised that such a strike 'Should be made definitely illegal. Accordingly, in 1927 the Conservatives passed a Trade Disputes Act which made any strike illegal which was not brought about by a definite dispute respecting wages or conditions in some industry. It also made the expenditure of Trade Union funds for electioneering purposes illegal until the member agreed in writing that part of his levy should be used for that purpose. Previously the law stood that part of the levy could be used for that purpose unless the member who paid the levy objected. The Act was naturally resented by ihe Trade Unions and the Labour Government has been pledged to bring in a 'fresh Act. It is felt that the 1927 Act is unduly stringent. There are such things as sympathy strikes where one union lends its help to another union to bring about an alteration where it is considered that conditions are not fair. Such a strike may be legitimale, while a strike intended to coerce the whole community is obviously little short of a crime. It may, in fact, be classed as treason, for it is an attempt by a section to seize the control of Ihe State. Along with this Trade Disputes Act an Electoral Reform Bill has been introduced. It provides for the alternative vote, which Liberals do not want instead of proportional representation which they do want. Mr Ramsay MacDonald in the days before Labour had succeded to power supported proportional representation, but like all other polilicians he refuses to have anything to do with it when he has climbed into office. The Liberals are divided over the Trade Disputes Act. Mr Lloyd George supports it and Sir John Simon opposes. It will be remembered that at the general strike of 1920, Mr Lloyd George refrained from any opposition to it until it was shown to be a failure, and he and Mr Asquith quarrelled publicly over the matter. If the Conservatives had taken the matter seriously they might have defeated the second reading. It is possible that they were not anxious to do so, or it may have merely been slackness. One of the curious features is that neither of the three parties desires a dissolution. The Conservatives think they are secure of victory, but in the meantime there are rifts in the party. The Liberals have no funds for a genera; election. The Labour Party have been successful over their foreign and international questions, but are noi supposed to have covered themselves with glory over domestic legislation. They are called on to carry out promises made at the general election, and some of these have been bad mistakes. There is a general expectation that the Trade Disputes Act will be much modified in committee and this will certainly happen if the Conservatives take the question seriously, but they are not in the habit of doing so when they are in opposition. One of ihe points which is objected to is that it is left to the Attorney General to decide whether a sympathetic strike is illegal or otherwise. The Attorney General is a member of the Government and a sympathetic strike will be legal under the Labour Government anu illegal under a Conservative Government. There is something peculiarly objectionable in leaving it to a party politician to decide whether certain action is or is' not a crime.

Whatever amendments may be made in the Act, it will in Ihe main become law. Amendments will be accepted by the Government, and it is even possible that the Cabinet may be pleased to have some of their provisions altered. There is a good deal of sham and nonsense about much of the Government’s policy. They made promises to secure election which they would be glad to forget If some of their followers would allow this to he done. In the curious three-party condition of the House there is room for much manoeuvring. It might have been thought that Mr Lloyd George, with his long experience would score under such circumstances. As it is he seems to have split his own smai. party and obtained nothing from the Government but the alternative vote, which nobody wants. There can be little doubt that a continuation of his tactics will see the disappearance of ihe party in Parliament though it is still a power in the country. Meantime . the Conservative Party which counts on victory, contains few men that inspire confidence. .Mr Baldwin is respected and popular outside the House, but his followers have liltle faith in him. It lias been pointed out that in his beliefs he is a Liberal, while Mr Lloyd George is at heart a Labour man, though willing to lead any coalition that can he got together. It, only remans to class Mr Ramsay MacDonald as a Conservative to make the confusion complete. The chief effect which is likely lo be produced by the Trade Disputes Act is a perception of what might happen if Labour attained power with a clear majority. Mr Snowden would then be dropped and some other members of the Government more prudent than the rest. Politics, however, will not decide the next election unless a drastic change lakes place in economic conditions. Il we are to have a long spell of the depression and unemployment

which exists it will be utterly impossible for anyone to predict what will be the result of the next general election, and this holds good for every country where elections are held.