The Sun.
London, England, 1868-07-16 00:00:00

TRADES UNIONS AND STRIKES.

The discussion opened on this subject at the meeting
held on the 4th instant in the theatre of the Society of
Arts, under the presidency of Mr. Gladstone, was resumed
on Wednesday night by adjournment at the rooms of the
Social Science Association, Adam-street, Adelphi. Mr.
G. W. Hastings, who occupied the chair, recalled to mind
that two resolutions stood over from the former meeting,
and these it was now proposed to take up. Mr. Newmarch
accordingly proposed the first of these, observing that its
intention was sufficiently indicated by its words, viz.:—
" That in the opinion of this meeting the interests of both
workmen and employers, instead of being opposed, are in
harmony, and indeed identical ; it being, for example, for
the benefit of each class that the rate of wages should
always be adopted which, on the one hand, is not so
high as to drive away capital, and, on the other, not
so low as to drive away labourers." Mr. Plummer
seconded the resolution, and quoted Mr. Charles Knight
and Mr. Stuart Mill in support of it. Mr. Thomas
Hughes, M.P., said it was quite impossible that he could
agree to the resolution, because the interests of the em-
ployers and employed were not identical. If they were,
this society had been wasting a good deal of time, and the
Trades Union Commission was sitting to no purpose. He
was afraid it would always be a question of strife as to
what share of profit capital and labour should each take,
and hence the resolution was not true in fact. Mr.
Torrens moved, as an amendment, " That in the opinion of
the meeting it is expedient in the interest of workmen and
employers that wages should, as far as the fluctuations
of trade would permit, be so adjusted as to avoid
equally those extreme rates which tend to drive away
capital, and deprive the workman of a comfortable sub-
sistence for himself and family." Mr. Ruskin was pre-
pared to second the amendment, with the addition of some
words to fix a standard of wages ; but after a long discus-
sion, in which Mr, Lloyd Jones, Mr. Lushington, Mr.
Dunning, Mr. F. Hill, and others took part, Mr. Torrens
consented to withdraw his amendment in favour of one
proposed by Mr. Webster, Q.C., as follows :—" That, in
the opinion of this meeting, while all relations between
employer and employed are of the nature of contract
and of transactions of purchase and sale, it is
still true that, in no remote sense, the real interests of both
are the same, and that it is for the general interest that
profits and wages should be adjusted so as to foster enter-
prise in the most effectual manner." Mr. Teulon
seconded this amendment, and it was eventually agreed
to almost unanimously. Dr. Hodgson then proposed, and
Mr. F. Hill seconded, the final resolution : "That con-
sidering how important it is that a knowledge of some
of the simpler laws of political economy, on the practical
application of which such momentous interests depend,
should be acquired before the mind becomes biased and
the passions aroused, this meeting is of opinion that, how-
ever elementary the school, and of all classes, such instruct
tion should always form part of the education." This
gave rise to another lengthened discussion; but it was
eventually agreed to, and a vote of thanks to the chair-
man closed the proceedings of a very protracted sitting.
The attendance was not so numerous as at the former
meeting.