THE WAIMATE ADVERTISER. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 1901. THE END OF TRADES UNIONS.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume III, Issue 128, 14 November 1901, Page 2

THE WAIMATE ADVERTISER. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 1901. THE END OF TRADES UNIONS.

THE recent decision of the House , of Lords as to the civil liability of trades unions for the acts of their officials is looked <m as the most important that has been come lo on the question since unions came into being. Numbers of the leading magazines in England are devoti-u-g space to the discussion of the question, and all agree thstt the unions have been dealt a severe blow, though they differ widely as to the benefit or otherwise to be derived. The Positivist Keview for September contains an article by Mr Frederick Harrison, which is pessimistic ia the extreme. H« declares that the working men of Britain, and therefore of British colonies, have lost important interests for which a previous generation struggled and believed they had won for over. The decision of the House of Lords practically made new lt\v. law which must prevent trades unions doing many things that, for twenty-five years they, believed they had a right to do, and which exposes the whole of their funds to legal liabilities from which till now they have beea thought to be exempt. Strikes are in Britain legal, and unions ate recognised under law, hut until this now famous decision they were ot opinion that they could not sue for money or be | sued. All their funds, even that set aside as benefits for widowi ! and orphans, may be operated ' upon, and how soon the new law may ruin them remains to be seen. The writer thinks that with this new law in operation, the big companies can starve out their workmen. Even if a uniott : does nothing contrary to law, if it persuades other that) member* to take pail in a lock o-ut or a strike, die employers may ste for damages through loss occasioned by the stoppage of their workB t and the funds of* the uuion will have to pay the piper. Mr Harrison's ail vice to unionists is to keep away from strikes or lock outs ahogether, and to do nothing that can pinch or inconvenience anyone, either employer or workman- He says : "If they make it unpleasant to anyone, or cauie anyone to lose his money or hie trade, they run great risk of having their union funds drained dry. So I t.dvise them to takf the terms their employers offer them, whatever they are, and be thankful for that." It will be remembered that about six months ago a conference of delegates from labour unions declined almost unanimously to discuss the question of compulsory arbitration, but we think they will turn to it now, whether for good or for ill, as the only thing tosavi v them from the sweating evils of the " good old tirm»B."