BRITISH TRADES DISPUTES.

Greymouth Evening Star, 24 February 1906, Page 3

BRITISH TRADES DISPUTES.

CABLE?NEWS.

[BT ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH —COPYRIGHT.]

[PEB PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

SUGGESTED LEGISLATIVE .AMENDMENTS. ..

LONDON, Feb;" 22.

The majority report on the Trades Disputes Bill denies that workmen were punished merely for peaceful picketing. It proposes to omit “watching and besetting” in a subsection of Section 7 of the Conspiracy and Protection of Property Act of 1875, and insert the words making the essence of offence reasonable apprehension of violence. t Four out of five of the Commissioners think the law of conspiracy needs amending or clarifying. The majority advise that increased facilities be givn for incorporating the trade unions and recommend the separation of funds should bo facilitated by statutory enactment. * The chairman and Mr Rohen consider the separation oT proper benefit funds must bo accompanied by a condition that tho funds separated are not to bo available for militant purposes. Messrs Lushington and Lewis dissent from tho proposal that provident funds should bo exempt from liability.

Mr Webb considers the work funds ought to.'bo placed on the same category as benevolent funds. Messrs Lushington and Lewis also strongly dissent. The views of tho majority on picketing recommend stronger protection of the personal freedom of workmen. They also differ on several other points. The majority advise that strikes should bn legalised apart from crime or broach of contract; also that trade unions should be legalised.