Orders of the Day — Industrial Councils Bill.

Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at on 23 February 1934.

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Photo of Commander Robert Bower Commander Robert Bower , Cleveland

And the whole of the Conservative party. But I am interested in the attitude of hon. Members opposite for the reason that, for the last two years, I have sat and listened a good deal, and talked very little, and heard them putting forward that they are a Socialist party. I would like to quote to them these words spoken 10 years ago by Mr. Thurtle: I rise as a Socialist, to move the rejection of this Bill. I preach Socialism in my constituency and I see no reason why I should not advocate it in this House. As I see this Bill, I am bound to say that fundamentally, it is the very antithesis of what I consider to be Socialism. The basis of this Bill is that you should split industry into two sections, employed and employers. That, I know, is in accordance with present day facts. There are two such divisions in industry, but this Bill makes a very large assumption that that division has got to continue. It assumes that you are going to continue to have employers and employed, and it seeks by means of the Clauses and provisions in this Bill to perpetuate that division of the two classes. The Labour Movement, as I understand it is fundamentally opposed to that kind of division. We want to see it obliterated as early as possible, and we are not prepared to assist in a Measure of this sort which seeks to perpetuate that division."—[OFFICIAL REPORT, 30th May, 1924; col. 780, Vol. 174.] I want to know whether that sums up the attitude of hon. and right hon. Gentlemen opposite to this Bill. It seems to me that if it does, I shall have the pleasure of walking through the Lobby with them to-day.