TRADES UNION BILL.

Hokitika Guardian, 15 June 1927, Page 2

TRADES UNION BILL.

IN THE COMMONS

(Australian & N.Z. Cablo Association.] LONDON. June 14. When the House of Commons was in Committee on the Trades Union Bill. Mr Arthur Henderson moved an amendment to the definitions clause, providing that the expression Trade Union shall include the Associations of employers that arc working in the same way as Trades Unions. He said that they should be. placed on the same footing as the Trades Unions.

Ijahour members contended that bodies like the Brewers’ Society and the Federation of Employers, which dispensed large funds for political purposes, ought to bo on the same foot ing as Trade Unions were put regardjng; their political levied. The amendment was defeated by 190 to 77. Colonel Gretton (Conservative) moved an amendment classing as a political fund money used to pay the election expenses of members of the House of Commons, and members of municipalities and also funds to finance newspapers. Sir T. Inskip K.C. (Conservative) said that while the Government did not view this attempt unsympathetically, the Government did not desire needlessly to open up a wide field of controversy.

Sir H. Slesser K.C. (Labour) said that this amendment showed the. real nature of the opposition to the Trades Unions’ activities. Th© amendment was then withdrawn. In the House of Commons, Air A. M. Samuel, in reply to a question, said the Government regarded the French embargo on coal importations with anxiety. They had made the strongest representation on the subject, specially urging that the existing contracts l>e respected. At presentlie did not know how the embargo was operating. He hoped to be able to make a further statement in a day or

(Per Wireless—Press Association). RUGBY, June 12. The House of Commons will re-ns-semble on Monday, after the Whitsuntide recess, -when the last clauses of the Trades Union Bill will he considered in committee. This stage of the Bill will be completed on Tuesday, when the new clauses introduced into the measure will jhei examined. The Government hopes to pass the Bill into law before Parliament rises for the summer b-> day. and there is every prospect that the House of Lords will receive the Bill in ample, time for Royal assent to be given before tlie end of July.