A much-needed - Bill to-amend.the Trade Union Act of. 1913 received!
a: second: reading in: the House of Commona on Friday, May 19th, by .161 votes to .82. It •would :require a trade union, before spending money out politics, to hold a ballot in which. at least half of the members took part,• and it would give- members an opportunity every year of declining to contribute to the political fund. Colonel -Meysey-Thompson, who moved the second' reading of the 'Bill, said that forty-two trade unions gave financial support to the Labour. Party on the strength of a ballot in which less' than a' third of their members' voted' and in which 117,000' voters- out of '504,000' objected to' the- proposal. Mr. Clynes' opposed', the BM in the name of 'liberty, but Sir George 'Younger reminded the House- that trade unionists- who dared to object to' the political levies were -victimized by- the Socialists controlling the executives. . Mr. Walton, an old miner, whom-the Yorkshire Miners' Union tried :to expel because he was not a Socialist, supported- the Bill. We- have never- been able to understand why a Conservative or Liberal trade unionist should be virtually compelled' to subscribe weekly to the support of the Labour Party and now, it would' seem, of a Communist newspaper as well. The Labour Party will never flourish While it 'depends on these forced levies. from unwilling people, who for the most part vote against.Lithour at the elections.
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