The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1869-03-20 00:00:00

COMMISSION.

THE REPORT OF THE TRADE UNIONS I

The above report was laid on the table of the
House of Commons on Tuesday night. Sir W. Erie,
Lord Eleho, Sir D. Gooch, Mr. Merivale, Mr. Booth,
Mr. Roebuck, and Mr. Matthews recommend the re-
laxation of existing laws against combinations, except
as to offences and damages. Further, they recom-
mend that it should be unlawful to combine to refuse
to work with particular persons ; the appointment of a
public prosecutor for trade offences; the registration
of unions recommended ; objectionable rules to be
prohibited which limit the number of apprentices and
prevent the introduction of machinery, or of sub-com
tracts, or which give support by one union to men en
strike in another; trade and benefit funds to have
separate accounts; accounts to be published. The
Commissioners are of opinion that unions have not
raised wages, and that strikes are not the creation of
unions. For the settlement of disputes, the Com-
missioners recommend arbitration and boards of con-
ciliation, as at Nottingham, but they must he volan-
tary. Co-operation is not regarded as a sufficient
remedy for the evils of unions, nor likely to be gene-
rally adopted. Boards of conciliation are regarded as

a more promising remedy.
A dissent No. I is signed by Lord Elcho, who con-
siders that the relaxation in favour of the right of com-
bination which the report recommends ought in no case
to be made dependent en questions of contract, as con-
tracts of service are amply protected by the amended
law of master and servant.

Lord Eleho and Mr. Merivale dissent from the re-
commendation that one union should not assist another
in case of a strike. This would give no check to the
practice, and would prevent 1111i11118 registering.
Another report, signed by Lord Lichfield, Mr.
Hughes, and Mr. Harrison, recommends the removal
of special legislation as to the employment of labour,
and suggests that trade offences should be punished
under the general criminal law. The report recom-
mends that persons should be allowed to combine as to
the men they will work with or for, and on such points
as wages, hours of labour, and all terms—no such com-
bination to be penal unless it has a criminal object or
uses. criminal means. The existing law which
punishes offences against person and property ought
not to be altered. Combinations for mutual
support and assistance and subscriptions to funds to be
acknowledged, provided no offences against person *r
property be contemplated. Lawful associations should
have the benefit of the Friendly Societies Act, with
the power of appointing trustees, and with remedy
against fraud. The agents of such associations should
be compelled to furnish copies of rules, by-laws, &c.,
to the registrar, with a statement of receipt and ex-
penditure. The regi-trar should have power to inspect
the books. It is submitted that it is inexpedient to
give additional legislative character to courts of con-
ciliation or arbitration, but expedient to give facilities
in all cases where a code of rules exists under mutual
agreement for the enforcement of the agreement against
either party who has bona fide accepted it.
Mr. Hughes and Mr. Harrison sign a dissent
which they term "conclusions from evidence." They
point to the great extent and increase of unionism,
and to the improved character of unions of late years.
The Sheffield and Manchester inquiries disclosed
atrocious crimes, but happily they were exceptions to
the general character of unions. Well- established
unions, they urge, rather diminish the frequency and
disorder of strikes, and are, on the whole, beneficial
in their operation. It is affirmed that the workmen
generally are not opposed to the use of machinery.
State interference in the matter of apprentices is depre-
cated. It is difficult to estimate the effect of unions
on foreign trade, but it is admitted that it is some-
times mischevious. Masters' associations ,re held to
open to the same objections as those of the men.
The dissentient Commissioners recommend that union.
should be capable of suing and recovering at law con-
tributions, arrears, and tines against their own mem-
bers. Unions ought not to be capable of being sued or
dissolved. It is not deemed expedient to change the
position of trade unions as clubs. It is also deemed
inexpedient to give a legislative character to courts of
conciliation or arbitration, but to give facilities for
their establishment and for enforcing the agreements
made under them.