TRADE UNION LEVIES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 2856, 10 March 1925, Page 2

TRADE UNION LEVIES.

BILL REJECTED. PRIME MINISTER'S ELOQUENT APPEAL. London, March 7. The House of Commons rejected Air Maequisteii's Trade Union Political Bevy Bill and carried, by 325 to 153 an amendment by Mr Baldwin approving the principle of political liberty embodied in the Bill, Iml' expressing the opinion that a measure of sneh far-reaching importance should not be introduced as it private Bill. The Liberals supported the Government amendment, which supporters of (lie Bill accepted. Mr Baldwin's speech on the Levy Bill has deeply impressed the House of* Commons. TTe pointed out. that social development was more rapid than most onlookers realised. The great forces of employers ami employees, on whom the next stage of industrial civilisation depended, carried a huge responsibility, and both must he directed by men with right, heads and hearts. Whatever form evolution was taking it must he in the direction of a closer partnership, the terms of which could not be laid down by statute. He wanted to see at the head of both sides men knowing exactly where the shoe pinched and actuated by a desire to steer their respective ships side by side instead of steering for head on collisions. The Conservatives believed in the justice of the Bill, hul it was not intended to push the political advantage of the moment when a sort of poison was preventing stability Hofli here and abroad. They would not (ire the (list shot, but stood for peace, the removal of suspicion, and the creation of a new atmosphere and a new age, in which people would come together. They might he called cowards, hul he was confident that their desire for peace would be reechoed and that there were many in all parties who would re-echo his •piayer “Give peace in our lime, O Lord.”

Subsequent speakers belonging to all parties in the House paid a tribute to Mr Baldwin’s eloquent appeal. The newspapers comment on Air Baldwin's remarkable speech: “The Daily Express” says he rather breathed than spoke the final prayer, so great was his emotion. Tie then sank hack in his seat. The crowded House was silent, amazed and impressed because the character of the speech was wholly unexpected, li invested the House with ail’atmosphere akin to a “Gipsy” Smith revival meeting.