LIBERAL TRADE UNIONISTS.

Putaruru Press, Volume IV, Issue 136, 10 June 1926, Page 2

LIBERAL TRADE UNIONISTS.

POLITICAL EMANCIPATION. A New British Movement. Though the trade unions of the Old Country, generally speaking, give their official support to the Labour party, it is well enough known that there are large numbers of the rank and file whose political leanings are in another direction, and who resent being dragged at the chariot wheels of the party headed by Mr Ramsay MacDonald. Many, perhaps the majority of nonLabour members of the British trade unions give their political support to the Liberal party, and an endeavour is about to be made to organise these m order that they may become more articulate in a political sense than they have hitherto been permitted to be. The proposals—outlined in a circular issued a little over a month ago —arc that a national conference of Liberal trade unionists should be held at as early a date as is practicable; that a joint advisory committee should be formed of Liberal M.P.’S and Liberal trade unionists in order that matters affecting the trade unionists may be effectively brought before Parliament; that arrangements should be made at the party headquarters for legal and technical advice on trade union matters to be available to Liberals seeking the information; that wherever possible a Liberal trade union group should be formed in each constituency. It is recommended that the constituency trade union group should nominate representatives on the executive of the local Liberal association, and that the groups should be linked up in a national organisation, some of the duties of which might be: — (a) Whore thought desirable, to assist members in contracting out of the political levy of the trade unions, and in securing the return of contributions made, thus preventing Liberal money being used to finance Socialism. (b) To watch the interests of the workers, whether attacked by members of the Conservative or of the Labour parties. (c) To act as the officially recognised channel for consultative purposes on all matters affecting industrial legislation and the rights of trade unionists. (d) To protect its members in the free exercise of their political rights and liberties. (e) To secure the adequate representation of trade union opinion in the councils of the party. (f) To forward the candidature of