The Tamworth Examiner and Working Men's Journal. — 1874-08-15 (Tamworth, Staffordshire, England)

PROSECUTION UNDER THE MASTERS AND SERVANTS ACT. AN APPEAL TO TRADES UNIONISTS.  A circular was issued in December, 1873, appealing for funds to enable the Trades' Union Parliamentary Committee to appeal against the decision of the Sheffield magistrates in the ease of Hayne and another v. Cutler, which was an action under the Musters and Servants Act for compensation. Ultimately the case was taken to the court of Queen's Bench after decisions against Cutler the defendant., Mr. Justice Lush gave judgement that he was of opinion the order of the justices should be upheld.—Mr. Justice Archibald also said: "I think there is nothing in the 9th sec. which deprives the magistrates of the power of directing that compensation to be paid. The proviso for the ordering of that is under the 11th sec., and this being an order for compensation I think it was properly made,,, and I think that the contract was not put an end to in the way it has been argued. You will thus see, adds the compilers of the circular, that under the Master and Servants Act, 1867, a workman may be prosecuted and punished by imprisonment and fine an unlimited number of times for one offence. Had Cutler committed forgery, burglary, or even murder, one conviction would have satisfied the law; but tor this act (morally justifiable in itself) in refusing to work for less than the current wages in the trade to which he belongs, he is to be followed by repeated persectiun, it may be even to death. He paid compel, , :nation in the first place; in the second he suffered three months' imprisonment as a common felon. He was then ordered to pay heavy compensation, against which , this Committee appealed; he is now cast in the costs of the appeal, in the Queen's Bench, on both sides, and is still liable to make farther compensation, and is also. liable for another three months' imprisonment. For eighteen months this honest man has fought against this vindictive firm, and now to be forced back to his shop like a bond slave would be more than flesh and blood could endure. We therefore earnestly appeal to you for funds to enable the Committee to pay the costs in this case, and also to support Cutler in any future action which the Committee may advise him to take.  unionists. At 's meeting of the Parliamentary Committee, held on Thursday morning, July 9th, the following remits. tion was unanimously carried, and a copy was ordered to be sent to the Home Office, and to the newspapers : " The Parliamentary Committee having heard vah regret, but not with surprise, that the Government are not prepared to legislate in any way this session uponi any of the great labour questions, such as the Criminal , Law Amendment Act, Master and Servants Act, or the ' Conspiracy Laws, feel that the Government have not , treated the working men of the country with candour, as they gave distinct promises when the Royal Commission was formed that legislation should take place this session, and by this promise prevailed upon the representatives of labour to accept a Beat on the Com. mission, the Government have thus crowned their contempt for the working men of this country by not even taking steps to carry a Suspensory Act until the Report of the Royal Commission is issued. We hope and trust this conduct of the Government may not be forgotten when they next appeal to the country for its support." The following is a copy of the correspondence on the Lebour Laws, between the secretary of the Royal Commission and the Parliamentary Committee. Mr. Bacon, secretary of the Royal Commission, writes to Mr. Howell, on June 4th, 1871, and says : " Sirs—Certain complaints about the Working of the Masters and Servant Act, 1867, and the Criminal Law Amendment Act, 1871, haring arisen, a Royal Commis. sion was lately appointed to enquire into the working oft those Acts, and whether any, and if any, what amend-