LABOR’S POLITICAL POWER.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 May 1922, Page 5

LABOR’S POLITICAL POWER.

A RESTRAINING MEASURE. By Telegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyright. Received May 20, 5.5 p.m. London, May 19. Col. E. C. Meysey-Thompson (Coali-tion-Unionist) moved the second reading of his amending Trade Union Bill, providing that before a union could take political action, such action must be approved by 20 per cent, of the unionists voting thereon in a poll in which at least half the eligibles voted. Col. Thompson declared the Bill did not attack the unions, but merely restored the legal position occupied prior to the Osborne judgment. Large numbers of trade unionists demanded freedom in politics. Mr. J. R. Clynes (Labor), moving the rejection of the Bill, while not questioning the mover’s intentions, said the Bill would seriously undermine the trade unions’ political aims as to public work. No workmen were now compelled to pay union contributions for political purposes if they desired not to. Mr. C. Jesson, trade unions organiser, welcomed the Bill, but other Laborites strongly opposed it on the ground that it aimed at putting back the clock owing to fears of labor’s growing political power. The Bill, amid Labor protests, was read a second time by 161 to 82.