The Press.
London, England, 1856-08-09 00:00:00

ralitttal.

THE MASTERS AND OPERATIVES SELECT COMMITTEE'S
report upon the expediency of establishing equitable
tribunals for the amicable adjustment of differences
between masters and workmen has appeared. The
committee propose to establish in the various manu-
facturing distrilts " Courts of Conciliation," like the
" Conseils de Prud'hommes " in France. The com-
mittee believe that the formation of such courts in
this country, more especially in the large commer-
cial, manufacturing, and mining districts, would be
beneficial, and suggest the introduction of such a
measure as an amendment in the present Arbitra-
tion Act, by enabling masters and operatives to
choose referees from their own class or calling,
equal in number, and presided over by a chairman,
unconnected with either party, to be elected by the
referees. The tribunal would be appointed to act
for a certain period. Those boards of arbitration,
on being licensed by the Secretary of State, would
have full power to act and decide on all questions of
existing contracts. The committee, however, think
it would be impossible to give these or any other
tribunals any power whatever of forcibly regulating
the rate of wages.
THE BISHOPS OF LONDON AND DURHAM RETIRE-
MENT ACT contains a clause to provide for the re-
tirement of the Bishops of London and Durham to
the effect that every bishop who shall succeed to the
sees and bishoprics of London and Durham respec-
tively shall take and hold his see and bishopric, and
all the property, patronage, and rights belonging
thereto, subject to any provisions respecting any
alteration of the limits of the diocese, and any ar-
rangement consequent thereon, which may be made
by or under the authority of Parliament within the
space of threa years next after the passing of the act.

THE NEW MERCANTILE LAW AMENDMENT ACT has
been printed. It will effect considerable alterations
in mercantile transactions. The act contains seven-
teen sections, and enacts that persons acquiring title
to goods before they have been seized or attached,
under a writ against the seller, are now protected,
provided the writ had been unexecuted. It is, how-
ever, necessary that the consideration for a guarantee
should appear in writing. Guarantees to or for a
firm are to cease upon a change in the firm, except in
special cases. A surety who discharges his liablity
is to be entitled to an assignment of all securities
held by the creditors. The acceptance of a bill, in•
land or foreign, is to be in writing on it, and signed
by the acceptor or his agent. With regard to repair
of ships, every port within the United Kingom is to
be deemed a home port. Actions for merchants'
account are limited to six years. Further, it is
enacted that absence beyond the seas or imprison-
ment of a creditor is not to be a disability. Judgment
recorded against joint debtors in the kingdom is to
be no bar to proceeding against others beyond seas
on their return. The Channel Islands are not to
be deemed " beyond the seas," nor any part of the
United kingdom. An acknowledgment in writing by
an agent duly authorised is to have the same effect
as if signed by the party. Part payment by one con-
tractor is not to prevent bar by certain statutes of
limitation in favour of another contractor. Rules
and regulations, and writs, &c., may be framed for
the purposes of the new law, which is not to extend
to Scotland. It is now in operation.