AUSTRALIAN POLITICS.

Gisborne Times, Volume X, Issue 1046, 13 November 1903, Page 4

AUSTRALIAN POLITICS.

THE CONSBIRACY AMENDMENT

BILL. By Electric Telegraph—Per Press Association—Copyright. SYDNEY, Nov. 12. In the Council, Mr Wise, in explaining the Conspiracy Amendment Bill, said that the judgment in the ; Taft Vale case seemed eo him the embodiment of common sense. He woulu never be a party to doing 'anything by means of legislation to affect the principle upon which the decision stood.; Unionists might dismiss from their minds once and for all any hope of ever persuading British voters into giving unlimited power without co-equal responsibility to any association, whether association of masters or men. The Bill thoroughly accepted the position laid down by the House of Lords', that unionists, if they had power, must, with that power, have collective responsibility. IT;e, said that clause 2 was the only one which jn any way bore on the Taft Vale ease. It reads as follows : “No trade union or industrial union or association of employees shall be liable in any suit of action,' nor shall the funds of such union or association be in any way chargeable in respect to any act or word spoken or written during ‘or in connection with'any industrial dispute by any agent, ii it he proved that such agent acted contrary to instructions bona fide given by or without the knowledge of the governing body of such union or association and that the union or association has bona fide, and by all reasonable means repudiated the acts or words complained of at the earliest opportunity publicly.’’ Clause 3 was intended to make clear the point that under the Arbitration Act .it was never intended that liability at common law should attach to industrial unions brought under the operations of the Act. To place the matter beyond doubt,- the object of. the Arbitration Act was stated to be to impose upon industrial unions heavy intermediate liabilities. Dr Cullen, the only other speaker, istrongly. oposed the BilL, If passed it would' completely exempt unions from the Tail Vale decision. Clause 3 contained a principle which ought, not to he tolerated in any civilised munity.BRISBANE, Nov. 12. The' Council negatived the Income Tax Amendment- Bill,