A BATTLEGROUND

Hokitika Guardian, 9 April 1927, Page 1

A BATTLEGROUND

(Lyttelton "Times.”)

J.t was inevitable that restrictive legislation in some form would follow the general strike in England last year. I’h© Conservative Party, at iis annual conference, called upon the Government to introduce most drastic measures, and there was some dissatisfaction with the non-

committal altitude adopted by Jh Baldwin. It has been slated that Cabinet, has been divided on the subject and the opponents of the Government now claim that the struggle has ended in lavotti of the reactionary element, it can be argued that the unfortunate experiences of last ,\e;u make some revision of the law ivc. >- sary. anil from that point ol 'tow alone the provisions ol the !r.u'.,s Disputes and Trade Union Bill may be considered to meet the case. I hit tho strike and the still more recent industrial troubles have 101 l a legacy of embit torment that will not be lessened, but will rather he aggravated |>v this .struggle over trade union lav.

Whatever compromise may be ur,.|v,.,| j,t, nr however diplomatically llie thorny ipiestion may he handled by the Government, it provides 110 policy for getting at the heart of tlie trouble. The measure is solely rest relive and will- hamper the efforts >•! those who see that industrial peace ci i come only through the good-will ac.o bettor understanding ol all part vs In a noteworthy speech in the dcliai.u on the Addross-in-Keply. Sir lohti Simon stressed ibis weakness in im* proposals of the Government wnen Ic -aid that "it is rather like holding a Hague Convention and deciding h.o exact rules under which people m. e'er, lo war when what you really want is a League of Nations to try to m~ (■ideal i a spirit which will prevent people I,miii going to war.” But ill' Bill will apparently make clear a muck disputed point concerning the 'dkg nitty of a general strike. Last year, ill 'mi itneerl.ilin language. Sit John Simon declared that it. was illegal, while oilier authorities combated -lus opinion and the Government was faced with the duty of specifically defining tho law that- was obviously olmure.

There was, however, a lui".uci leason for definite action in making the position clear and that was the aosenco of any statement b.v responsible leaders of the trades unions that Hie general strike, as a weapon Tor attaining their ends, had been abandoned. Indeed some of them announced thatthe .strike last year was merely a preliminary skirmish, in which mistakes had been made hut that next time the procedure would he improved upon. The threat of other and more formidable general strikes by tlu* extremist section oi tlie trades unions, together with the lailure ol the mote temperate leaders to disavow its use in ibe future, lias undoubtedly streiigthem J the hands ol the Government. The provision regarding picketing is obviously designed to make clear tiiat the law at present does not countoiiante intimidation and violence. While, peaceful picketing is recognised by Statute, the provisions are evidently so vague, or couched in such terms as to lead to misunderstandings in the lengths to which strikers might lawfully go. Even the < xisiing lav. gave no authority fur the abuses and extravagances oi modern picketing methods and the Bill emphasises that point in terms thai admit oi no misunderstanding. (Jiiestions regarding, the proposed restrictions on local body employees turn f ratio union levies, while oi minor impoitame. H-nil to create irritation and commenting on the laiter an i-.nglish journal says that "any attempt to ini..ill■ l-- with trade union funds may he likened to iho -e petty rest rid ioils oil a frontier which do little in cml'.arias.s a. neigh lion ii ug Fewer hut cause irritation, milking war more likely. The real drawback of ihe Bill as outlined in the cable messages is the failure to provide any machinery lor tin* prevent ion oi industrial disputes. Thai the measure will cause a bitter struggle is certain, for in tlie debate on ("he Aildress-iu-llopiy the Labour spokesman threatened that any legislation of the kind indicated would he fought line h.v line. The proposals Pave not. yd become law, and they may lie materially amended during the passage of the Hill through the House of Commons.