4 JUNE 1927, Page 3

* * * On Tuesday the House passed the clause

which prohibits local authorities from requiring their employees to be trade unionists. Mr. Neville Chamberlain reason- ably argued that local authorities are not like private employers as they represent the whole community. Captain Macmillan was particularly interesting in his development of the theme that it would not be to the advantage of Labour to try to strengthen trade unionism through the decisions of local authorities here and there. Some day we might come to compulsory trade unionism as in Italy—if we wanted it ! But the time was not yet, and in any case the decision must rest with Parliament and not with local bodies. On Wednesday the House carried the clause which authorizes the Attorney-General to apply to the High Court for an injunction restraining the application of trade-union funds to an illegal strike.