TRADE UNION BILL.

Feilding Star, Volume 5, Issue 1127, 15 June 1927, Page 5

TRADE UNION BILL.

FURTHER DISCUSSION. FUNDS FOR POLITICAL PURPOSES. . 1 (Aust. and N.Z. Cable), London. June 13. In committee oil the Trade Unions Bil] T Mr A. Henderson (Lab.) moved an amendment to tlie Definitions clause providing Abat tlie expression .trade union should include associations of employers. Workmen were trades unions, and they should he placed on the same footing, as it would he unreasonable to place employers’ asoeiastinn.s which wore not trade unions, under obligations applying only to trade unions.

Labour members contended that bodies like the Brewers’ Society and the Federation of Employers, which dispensed large funds for political purposes-: ought to he on the same footing as trade unions regarding political levies. The amendment was defeated by 190 votes to 77. Cojonel Gretton (C.) moved an amondmont classing as political fund money used to >ay the election expenses of members of the House of Commons and mnieipaliticg and to finance newspapers. T'he SoliciTor-General, Sir Thomas In skip, said that while he did not view the amendment unsympathetically, the Government did not desire needlessly to open vip a wide field of controversy. - Sir Henry SI esse r (Lab.) said the amendment showed Tlie real nature of the opposition to trades unions’ activities. The amendment was withdrawn.