BRITISH POLITICS

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXI, Issue 8, 20 December 1930, Page 7

BRITISH POLITICS

TRADES DISPUTES BILL TEXT ISSUED. SYMPATHETIC STRIKES LEGALISED. [United Press Association—By CableCopyright.l (Received 20, 12.30 p.m.) London, Dec. 19. The House of Commons text of the Government’s Trades Dispute? Bill is issued. It abolishes the safeguards introduced by the 1927 Act against the repetition of a general strike. Sympathetic strikes are now legalised if the object is industrial, as apart from political, and there is nothing in the clause to limit the number of sympathetic strike?. The High Court, however, has power to declare a strike or lock-out illegal became its purposes are other than the furtherance of a trade dispute, but only if the Attorney-General is a party to the proceedings. The Bill restore? the trade unions’ right to make a political levy with a contracting-out clause for members, but contribution to political fund shall not be a condition for admission to the union. Peaceful picketing is allowed and civil servants are entitled to be members of organisations affiliated to trade unions or the Labour party. DYESTUFFS AOT. [British Official Wireless.l Rugby, December 18. In the House of Commons, Mr Graham announced that the Government had no other course but to accept the decision of the House of Lords regarding the Dyestuffs Act, othewise the Rent Restrictions Act, legislation affecting miners’ wages and other Acts of Parliament would be lost. “Moreover, the Government’s majority in the House of Commons yesterday was narrow. There is a temptation to enter upon a discussion regarding the relations of the two Houses, but w 0 ourselves and the electorate outside will form our judgments.’’ (Loud Ministerial cheers.) Sir J. Cunliffe-Lister, replying, said the Opposition was only too anxious to test tlie feeling of the electorate in the matter, but lie understood that a general election in the near future had been described elsewhere as political suicide from the standpoint of the Labour party. (Opposition cheers.) A desultory discussion regarding the powers of the House of Lords followed, in which some Labour members accused Imperial Chemical Industries and kindred firms of corrupting political life. Conservatives hotly denied the insinuation. The House of Lords’ amendment was agreed to without a division.

KEEPING LABOUR IN OFFICE. [United Press Association—By CableCopyright.) London, Dec. 19. Important political moves designul to enable the Labour Party to retain office for a further two years or face an earlier general election with what are ’considered good battle cries were made yesterday in connection with the Electoral Reform Bill and the Trade Disputes Bill. The “Daily Herald" declared that the new bill completely wipes out Mr. Baldwin’s Act. passed after the general strike of 1926. Sympathy strikes will be legalised and no strike can be declared illegal on account of its mere magnitude. The political levy will be restored and civil services will be permitted to organise. Sir Oswald Mosley told the Labourites they would lose 100 seats if they went to the country’ in the immediate future. Mr. MacDonald wound up in the same strain. He seemed, like the rest, to assume that the Liberals were so frightened that they were prepared to risk anythin,' rather than an election at present It remains to be seen whether Sir John Simon and others share this view.

The “News-Chronicle” is reconciled to a still further period of'Labour. It says: “However bitterly the Liberals criticise the Government it is infinitely preferable to a protectionist Tory administration.”