IMPERIAL POLITICS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 171, 28 October 1910, Page 5

IMPERIAL POLITICS.

THE TRADES UNION FUNDS. "DISHONESTY OF THE SOCIALIST." By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright. London, October 20. Mr. Frederick Harrison, in a letter to the Times, contends that the reversal of the Osborne judgment is out of the question. He argues that if members of the House of Commons are compelled to vote according to the will of the executive of the trade union, they will soon be met by members equally bound to obey the behests of other corporate bodies, such as banks, railroads, brewers, steel, cotton, shipping and corn combines. Thus special interests would be represented in Parliament and would so publicly and normally act. He adds that doubtless a Bill effecting what Mr. Keir Hardie asks is possible. It might enact that any combination of workmen applying its common funds to the maintenance of salaried members of the House of Commons should not be deemed a trade union as defined by the Trades Union Act, and' should not enjoy the privileges and immunity conferred on a real trade union. Mr. Harrison scathingly denounces the dishonesty of the Socialist minority in the trade unions seeking to capture and divert to Utopian schemes the careful savings of trade unions subscribed to succor the laborer who is out of work or in sickness and old age, or to assist his family at the time of his death. THE COST OF THE LABOR PARTY. London, October 26. The Labor correspondent of the Manchester Guardian estimates the expenses of 78 Labor candidates at last election at £50,000, of which £12,701 was for returning officers' charges, and the annual expenditure £15,000, of which half is for salaries. The unions are also spending £50,000 annually in financing local orcanisation.

The payments of members will be insufficient to provide the above expenses. TRADE UNIONS AND POLITICS. UNIONIST WOULD DIVORCE THEM. Received 27, ]2.0.5 a.m. London, October 27. Mr. Andrew Bonar Lav.', speaking at the Primrose League, Glasgow, said that those accusing Mr. Balfour of lack of firmness knew precious little about him, for no one was more tenacious of purpose. Mr. Law remarked, regarding the Osborne judgment, that while there was uncertainty in Government circles, there was none among Unionists, who were utterly opposed to its reversal. They desired to divorce Trades Unionism from politics. He wished to see working men, even though Socialists, in Parliament, and he also wanted to see representatives of the great mass of Conservative opinion among the working men. THE WALTHAMSTOW SEAT. Received 28, 12.55 a.m. London, October 27. A striking Labor Party manifesto urges the electors of Walthamstow to abstain or to vote against Mr. Simon in the ab=ence of promise of a. reversal of the Osborne judgment.