TRADE UNION BILL

Hokitika Guardian, 6 May 1927, Page 2

TRADE UNION BILL

(Australian Press Association & Sun.) SPEECH BY AIR BALDWIN. CONDON, May 1. In the House of Commons, Mr Baldwin spoke on the Trade l nion Bill. He said that since 1900, there had been a great change in the attitude of the Trade Unions. It was a change from industrial to political action. Successive Governments, moreover, had entrusted the Trade Unions with certain work connected with social legislation. -Side by side with this development, some union had come gradually under the control of what was called the "Minority Movement.’’

Air J. Bromley (Labour) challenged Air Baldwin to cite one single such union.

Air Baldwin said that he was not going to quote any names, hut lie would not withdraw the statement.

Air T Williams (Labour) declared that Air Baldwin’s statement was one reflecting on large organisations ot some half million members. The statement was transparently untrue. While the Speaker was endeavouring to restore order, several Labour members rose and interjected. Mr J. Beckett (Gateshead) addressing Air Baldwin, said: Admit you are a- liar!

At this there were cries of "Name him!” and "Withdraw.”

Air Beckett refused to withdraw his remark. He declared: "I hope you w ill name the liar as well!” Mr AV. Churchill then moved the suspension of Mr Beckett. Suspension was carried by 321 votes to 88.

Alt' Beckett, as he left the Mouse, shouted: "1 will go outside and tell the country what our Front Bench has been doing!”

Air Baldwin, resuming his speech, said that he had received Labour demands in the name of the Unions to which he had referred. From his experience last year, the Miners Federation was under the control ol the “Minority .Movement.” The record of the Government showed that they had been pacificists, and that the Labourites had been militarists. When he came into office in 1921, lie had no intention of introducing 'Trade Union legislation. Air Baldwin declared that Air AlacQuiston’s (Conservative) Bill of 192-1. dealing with the political levy, was withdrawn at his (Baldwin’s) suggestion, on the ground that lie did not desire to lie responsible for firing the first shot. Since then the Government for the sake of peace, had changed its mind on the question of the coal subsidy, which had exposed them to the charge of cowardice, and of not knowing their own minds, and of wasting the country’s resources.

Continuing, the Prime Minister said

“1 believe that if democracy were given the time to reflect, it would refrain from creating a grave situation bv the declaration of a general strike. Unfortuntely the general strike was only postponed. Aly view, when the general strike was declared, was that the extremists in the Labour Party had got their way. 1 recognise that many of the leaders accepted it simply to keep a united front, hut the unity was only an apparent unity. There was a fissure through the whole edifice.”

ATr Baldwin, in concluding his speech said: Air Clynes has charged us with trying to split the Trade Union .Movement. I think that the Trades Union Movement is snlitting it.seli. 1 am asked; "What is your mandate lor this Bill.:-” My reply is: "Our mandate is the events of last year.” I was pressed to pass, such a Bill during the strike and again immediately afterwards. 1 declined, because the chances were that the Bill would then have been of a most vindictive kind. The Labour members speak as though they exclusively represent the workers. hut we have more worker supporters than they.” The Prime Minister continued: "Me intend that the general strike shall he illegal ; that intimidation shall be illegal, and that compulsion to subscribe to political funds shall be illegal.” Amid further interruptions, Mr Baldwin concluded: "I believe this Bill will commend itself to the country. If Labour cares to make its repeal the issue at the next general election, then the Government will meet them with confidence.”

Speaking on the Trades Union Bill Mr Thom Shaw (Labour) said that ‘Mr Baldwin had sought for assistance to elucidate this Bill, but he did not help them to understand it The real reason for the Bill was not the general strike, but the growth of tho Labour Party. He asked: “What had the general strike to do with the political levy?” The debate was adjourned.

A division is expected on Thursday, after Mr Lloyd George and Mr Thomas have snoken.