The Sun.
London, England, 1869-03-18 00:00:00

THE TRADES UNIONS COMMISSION.

Though the report of the Trades Union Commission
has not yet been officially published, the Sheffield Daily
Telegraph (doubtless through the kindness of Mr. Roebuck,
who was supported by it throughout the late election
contest) presents the document in extenso to its readers.
The report is not a unanimous one, for, out
of ten commissioners (Sir William Erie, Lords
Elcho and Lichfield, Messrs. Gooch, M.P., Merri-
vale, Booth, Roebuck, Hughes, M.P., Harrison and
Matthews), £ve (Elcho, Lichfield, Merrivale, Hughes,
and Harrison) dissent from the propositions agreed upon.
The report set forth at full length the arguments on either
side as to the questions which have been so long agitating
capital and labour. A description is given of a trade
society, and the commissioners believe that the
results of the inquiry are such as to afford a very clear
insight into the constitution and proceedings of all
be trade societies in the kingdom. The objects of
anions are of a two-fold character—benefit and trade pur-
; oses, but these are often combined. Under the second
division the primary objects are to obtain the best rate of
cages, the shortest hours, and an equal division of work.

These objects are attained through the direct agency of a
strike. The conducting of a strike is one of the most impor-
tant duties of the council of a union. Though the e vidcnce did
not bear out the idea that strikes were a creation of
unionism, nor that strikes were increased in frequency in
proportion to the strength of the union, yet it was not
unreasonable to suppose that the diminished frequency of
strikes arose, not from any want of disposition, but from
the fact that the organisation was so powerful as to com-
mand a concession without having recourse to a strike.
Taking the Manchester inquiry, the commissioners shew
that one view of the subject has been set forth in the
report that has been sent to them. The Brickmakers'
Society of that town claim an extent of four miles round
Manchester in every direction, an area of 120 square
miles, as their peculiar district, within, the limits of which
they allow no briCks to be made by any but Manchester
union men, nor any bricks to be used except those
' made within the district. There is a tacit understanding
among the workmen for repressing competition, and the
rules fix the minimum rate of wages, and the maximum
number of working hours. Overtime and piecework are
both prohibited. Piecework is objected to by its
opponents because one of its results is inferior
workmanship, a view which the employers do not
take. At the same time it is stated that the asso-
ciations of employers, though in principle the same as
the unions of workmen, are few in number. In the
event of a strike among workmen they meet it by a " lock-
out ;" but the existence of the association is of a temporary
character, seldom lasting longer than the contest. Trades
unions are also said to have injurious effects on the character
of the working man, the workmen, looking rather to the
approval of their unions thin to that of their employers,
are less anxious to stand well with the latter, and the
employers no longer feel under the same obligation to look
after the interests of their workmen, and to assist them in
periods of difficulty. All this is set down as twaddle by the
unionists, and the commissioners do not attempt to
decide between the disputants. They merely give their
opinion as to the position and the actioet which the State
should take in this matter. The effect of unions on the
trade and industry of the country, the commissioners say,
is not easily defined. If a distinct case was made out
that the trade had gone into other channels, it would
remain to be shewn what caused the diversion.
In so far as they are effective, many of the
rules and practices of trades unions are instru-
mental in enhancing the price of commodities by
keeping up the cost of production ; but how far they are
sufficient for the object is a question incapable of solution.
The commissioners are disposed to think, however, that
the operation of trades unions may have tended to
enhance the cost of production. The effect of unions
on foreign competition is undetermined. The report
goes on to say that the trades societies, with very few
exceptions, have, by their rules and proceedings, placed
their funds beyond the protection of the law, a state
of things which ought not to be allowed to continue. On
the subject of combination it is set forth that workmen
have a perfect right to combine, provided the com-
bination be voluntary ; an equal right has, however,
to be extended to those men who desire isolation from
the combination to dispose of their labour as they
please. The power of combination is liable to abuse.
Many instances of ill-advised strikes have been brought
under the notice of the commissioners which have
resulted in loss and suffering both to employers and em-
ployed. The system of "picketing," and other similar
abuses, the law is equal to repressing. The commisioners
recommend that a bill be brought in to relax the existing
law, to enact that no combination of persons for the pur-
pose of disposing of their labour shall be unlawful;
a public prosecutor shall be appointed to deal
with trade offences ; that facilities should be
granted for the registration of trade societies ; and
that those whose rules are objectionable should be ex-
cluded. 'Trade and bet.eflt societies should as far as pos-
sible be kept separate. Treated as a question of wages
only, the commissioners think it doubtful whether the net
earnings of workmen connected with the unions have not
on the whole been dimialied rather than increased
through the agency of the unions. The question of co-
operative and industrial partnerships is touched upon, hut
as the evidence on this subject was scant the commis-
sioners offer no opinion. With regard to the settlement
of disputes by arbitration and conciliation, the commis-
sioners believe that the establishment of boards of con-
ciliation seems to offer a remedy at once speedy, safe, and
simple. There is in them no complicated machinery, no
novel division of profits, no new mode of conducting
business. They need no Act of Parliament, and no legal
powers and penalties.
There are three paragraphs expressing dissent. Ths
first, signed by Lord Elcho, expresses the opinion that
contracts of service are amply protected by the Masters
and Servants Act, and be objects to any suggestion that
further legislation is wanted on that subject. The
second dissent, signed by Elcho and Herrmann Merrivale,
protests against the unconditional repeal of laws against
societies which are intended to restrain trade. The signers
also object to a recommendation that trade societies shall
not help one another, on the ground that such a provision
would lead to the abandonment of the registry by those
societies which did not dare to abandon co-operation.
Lord Lichfield and Messrs. Hughes and Harrison give
quite a report by themselves. They object to the general
report, because it is not proposed to alter, unconditionally
and unequivocally, the law whereby trades unions are
liable to be regarded as conspiracies. They do not think
that it has been shewn that any laws are required
relating exclusively to the employment of labour,
the general criminal law being, in their opi-
nion, sufficient to deal with any criminal acts.
They would propose instead the repeal of all special laws
relating to labour, and have it declared that combina-
tions, whether of masters or men, are legal. They would
also extend the Friendly Societies Acts to trades, and
give facilities for registering. As to arbitration, they
declare that it would be inexpedient to give any additional
legislative character to courts of conciliation or arbi-
tration, but it would be expedient to give increased
facilities in all cases where a code of rules exists under
mutual agreement for the enforcement of the agree-
ment against either party who has bond fide accepted it,

Mr. Charles Reade's action against The
Bound Table for libel, contained in a review of "Griffith
Gaunt," the trial of which occupied the Supreme Court of
the State of New York for several days, terminated in a
verdict for Mr. Reade, with the nominal damages of six
cents.

IMPORTANT TO SURGEONS WITHOUT PRACTICE.--
The Berwick guardians have just put forth a characteristic
advertisement. They happen to be in want of a medical
officer and a workhouse porter. To the former they offer
£25 a year, out of which he will be required to pay for all
the medicines except cod-liver oil. Candidates are expected
to attend before the guatdians on the day of election at
their own cost. The porter is to have £2O a year, with
board and lodging.

- - -
MEDICAL OFFICERS SUPERANNUATION BILL.
A. bill to provide for superannuation allowances to medical
officers of poor-law unions, and of dispensary districts of
such unions in Ireland, has just been published. It pro-
vides that the allowance shall not in any case exceed two-
thirds of the income derived from the office, and among
other clauses it stipulates that the words "medical officer"
shall include surgical officer, and that the grant of any
such allowance shall not be compulsory upon the guardians
of any union.
A AMY Ar PROPRIATION ACCOUNTS. —The appropria-
tion account of the sums granted by Parliament for armyser-
vices for the yearended March 31, 1868, with the report of the
Comptroller and Auditor-General, has just been presented
to Parliament. A large proportion of the increased
charges are due to the adjustment of the War Department
:Lccount with the Colonial Government of New Zealand,
:or expenses connected with the Maori war and to the
Abyssinian votes. The commissariat establishments and
movement of troops figure largely under both heads,
being £933,544 for Abyssinia and £284,776 for
New Zealand. Altogether these two departments
take respectively a little more than a million and a
quarter and half a million. Several reasons are given for
the excess under each particular head, and a detailed
account of the extra receipts of the year 1867-8, amount-
ing to £512,211, is also given. In the report of the
Comptroller and.Auditor-General, he states that it will be
requisite that a vote shall be taken for the sum of
£202,024 M. 6c1., the stUggsisiz:m army explikire
Itte&