A BRITISH LABOUR AGITATION.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 903, 24 August 1910, Page 5

A BRITISH LABOUR AGITATION.

BIG STRUGGLE PENDING. REVERSAL OF OSBORNE JUDGMENT SOUGHT. , COUNTRY TO-BE STUMPED. By Telegraph—Press Association- Copyright. London, August 22. At a meeting of the executive of the Labour party, the Federation of Trade Unions,, the Parliamentary Committer, and the Trade Union. Congress, Mr. D.'-J. Shackleton, M.P. for Clitheroe, presiding, it was resolved to make the Osborne judgment a test question at all elections. Tho meeting deprecated' the Goyern'ment's action in not facilitating a Bill to restore rights enjoyed for half a century.

"THE TIMES'S" COMMENTS, WIREPULLERS WANT CONTROL. .' '.(Rec. August 21, 0.30 a.m.) London, August 23. In order to enable arbitration to proceed the Joint •' Labour Board resolved to further discuss tho Osborne judgment at the forthcoming Trade Union Congress, f • \-' Mr. Ramsay MacDo.nald, Labour M.P. for Leicester, has stated in an interview that a big demonstration is being prepared against the judgment. Ho will be personally addressing 29 gatherings before. Christmas. "The. Times" describes - yesterday's resolution ' as , a ' decision 'to exercise pressure upon the Government by stumping the country and making the ■ Osborne judgment the leading political issue.' The ihj unctions which have been secured against various unions preventing the .use of the union funds in support of the Labour party will affect sixteen Labour members of the House of. Commons. The bait of payment of members will not satisfy tho Labour wirepullers, as they want to control the unions. , Public opinion, "The Times" declares, revolts at the idea of. compelling a trades unionist to pay for the maintenance of a party whose politics he may detest, j '' .-' \- - ' . v ■ The "Daily Chronicle" (Liberal), in recommending the payment of members, deprecates the agitation for immediate legislation reversing the whole; judgment. Such legislation is neithor feasible nor desirable, but some legislation regarding the political status of trade uhions. will possibly be'■ 'necessary. Any attempt, nowever,' to coerce every ■ member of a union would be a restriction and a denial of free electoral rights^

SPIRIT OF INSUBORDINATION. ROWDYISM MUST BE DROPPED. London, August 22. Mr. C. Fenwick, Labour M.P. for Wansbeck, Northumberland, speaking at a miners' demonstration at Tynemouth, said the greatest, danger to trade unionism was the grave spirit of insubordination. If there was not confidence in the. officers of the unions, the sooner they were dismissed the better. Unless this rowdyism was dropped immediately, the .Northumberland miners would experience ■the greatest social wreck of modern times. •