BRITISH POLITICS

Hokitika Guardian, 28 February 1931, Page 5

BRITISH POLITICS

LABOUR AND LIBERALS. [United Press Association—By Electri Telegraph. —<__ py rigl> v. J LONDON, Feb. 23. Among the political developments is that the General Council of tinTrad s’ Union Congress met and expressed strong resentment against the Hostile LioeraJ amend iikiUs to toe Trades’ Disputes Bill. The Council insisted on tne restoration of the position before the General Strike in 1d26. The Bill comes before the Standing Committee of the House again to-day. If the Liberal amendment for maxing big strikes illegal is carried, the Bill will he withdrawn. So also is the Electoral Bill, which is part of the Labour Party’s bargain for the Liberal Party’s support for the Trades’ Disputes Bill., An unofficial meeting of the Labour Parliamentarians showed its feeling against the ten per cent revenue tariff. The resignations of Sir Oswald Mosley and Mr Brown from the Labour Party are delayed, the former is ill with influenza, and the lapjr with pleurisy.

SUNDAY SHOWS. LONDON, ternary 26. The Government has decided to introduce a Bill to ainetid the Sunday Observance Act of 1780. This will make legal Sunday performances at the theatres and other forms of amuse* ment ns well as cinemas. TRADE UNION BILL KILLED. RUGBY, Feb. 26. The Commons Standing Committee on the Trades Disputes Bill adopted by 37, to 31 votes, a Liberal amendment to the first clause defining an illegal strike. The Committee adjourned, and the Government will now drop the Bill. The General Council of tile Trades Union Congress yesterday declared the amendment was so unacceptable that its adoption would render further progress of the Bill of little or no interest.

* LONDON, Feb. 27. The Liberal Party’s amendment to the Trades Disputes Bill was moved by Dr G. L. Burgin. It makes illegal any strike or lockout exposing • any substantial portion of the community to danger in health or safety by interfering with the supply or distribution of essential food, water, fuel, light or other necessities. Mr Hayday, who is the Chairman of the Trade Union Congress described this amendment as a declaration of war on the part of the Liberals. If this fundamental clause of the Bill Were mutilated, he said, he must tell the Government that it Was useless to tuibiiilt to ally further' humiliation at bands Of the ..Liberals; Sir W; A. Jowitt., (AtWrney.Geberal), said that the Government would in no flircumstancßM accept this amendment, which would put the trade unionists in a more difficult position tliau they had been in since 1875. It would make any strike illegal, and would drive the men haek to work on any terms that the employers dictated. Owing to Mr MacDonald being on holiday the Government will decide the fate of the Trade Disputes Bill at

ft Cabinet meeting which is being held I on Monday. It is considered that a general election is brought appreciably nearer. The Labourites increasingly dislike a situation in which they are compelled to depend on Liberal votes. The Liberals are more convinced every day, especially in view of the bye-elec-tions, that their support of the Socialists is -T/eakening their own position in the constituencies. The “Morning Post’’ says: “The Bill Is cunningly drafted so as not to appear to do what is intended, namely, to .give relief from legal liability for any organised attempt to hold the community at ransom. The frustration of that purpose has made the bill valueless to its real promoters. The Liberals may reflect that for the first £ime in the present Parliament, they Jhave earned a little to respect. ) The “Daily Herald” says: “If the Liberals want war, they shall have it—war without stint, until their ramshackle party tumbles into oblivion. IN THE COMMONS. ItUGBY, February 26. Mr Snowden, answering a question in the House of Commons, said that he would give careful consideration to any practicable proposals for th« stabilisation of silver, but thought it would be difficult to deal with silver effectively, except as part of the wider problem of general price stabilisation.