The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1868-07-25 00:00:00

TRADE SOCIETIES AND C3MBINA-
TIONS OF WORKMEN.

The bill introdueed by Sir 'Thomas Fowell fluxt.on
and Mr. lichad Young, to appeal snit amend the iaws
relating to trade societies mai the combination of wo.k.
m• n was issued lately.
The preamble recitee the Aets 6 Geo. IV. cap. 129,
end 22 Vitt., cap 34; which by clause I are re.
pealed.
_

Clause 3 provides that: Tram and after passing of
this Act, if any person shall, by violence to the parson
or property, or-by the threat of such violence, or by the
threat of the commission of any offence punishable by
statute, free or endeavour to force any journeymen,
manufacturer, workman. apprentice, or other person
hired or employed in any manufacture, tit le, or busi-
ness, to depart from his biting, employment., or work,
or to return his work before the same shall he finished,
or prevent oe endeavour to p. event I.y such means any
journeyman, manufacturer, workman, apprentice or
other person, not being hired or employed, (min
hiring himself to, or accepting work or employment
from any person or persons ; or if any person shall
use or employ violence to the perren or property, or '
the threat of such violence, or the threat of the com-
mission of any offence punishable by statute for the
purpose of enforcing any person to belong to any 6th
or atinoeiation, or to contribute to ally common fund,
or to pay any fine or penalty, or on account of his not
belonging to any particular club or association or not
having contributed or having refused to contribute to
any common fund, or to pay any fine or penalty, (Iron
account of his not having complied or refused to
comply with any tulles, orders, regulations Or rtBolll.
tiring made to obtain an advance or to reduce the rates
of wages, or to lessen or alter the hours of work. or
decrease or alter the qitatt.ty of work, or to regulate
the mode of carrying MI any manufacture, trade, or
business, or the management thereof ; or if any person
shall, by violence to the person or pirspeity, or by
the threat of such violence. or by threat of the com-
mission of any offence punishable by satute, force, or
endeavour to free any inanu'acturer or person carry.
ing on any trade or business to make ally alteration m
his mode if regulating, managing, conducting or carry-
ing on such manufacture, trade, or business, or to
limit the umulier (ii, a prentics, or the number and
description of his journeymen, tit-mkt-len, or servants ;
1 every person go offending, being convicted thereof,
41..11 be imprisoned for any term not exereding
three calender months, with or without hard labour.
Clause 4 enacts that a mere comliiiiation for trade
purposes shall n..t be deemed a conspiracy.
Clause 7 provides for the legality of trade societies
established for the purpose of raising funds for the
nititu6 relief and m tintenance of their members, Mires,
&c., during such time as the members thereof shall Le
unemployed ; provided that 110 such society shall he
deemed to he established for an unlawful purpose by
reason of its being subject to rules, or of its imposing
penaltiesi4 a restrictive character respecting the terms
upon, or the mode in which, or persons with or by
whom any tradcwork shall be done, except such rules
as are or shall be declared to be illegaL
Clause It provides fur the punishment of officers of
trades unions found guilty .4 etiihrezlement.
The Act is to be cited as "The Trades Societies Act,
1868."