THE TAFF VALE CASE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12210, 4 March 1903, Page 5

THE TAFF VALE CASE.

. *-ft ACTION IN AUSTRALIA; By Telegraph.—Press Association.— ■ . ■ (Received March 3, 10.30 p.m.) • f,,, • ; > (.;, v : V : <. ; "V- %■: V: 'V_ MmiftoTTßkE, March 3. A deputation, of the Amalgamated Mine™* Association, including Tasnmnian representatives, interviewed - the Federal AttorneyGeneral to ascertain the position of trades unions in view ot the Tail Vale decision. It : was explained that the association wanted the right tti ■ use every - peaceable means to induce men to become members, but they read the Taff Vale decision to mean that if there was a dispute on they could not attempt to induce men to join the " union, otherwise they would fall under the ban of the law. The association : had been formed for a noble purposeto ' band men • together— evidently their purpose was nullified by the judgment of the Eng- • lish Courts. . They asked for an inquiry to ascertain, the legal rights of unions, aid urged that the law should be made to apply equally to employer and ;■ employee. ,;The unions only wanted the right to Use moral suasion. ■ ~_ Mr. Deakin endorsed the argument of the Taff Vale decision, which, he said, ftpplied not only to the officers, but to every single member of a union. He pointed out that the -Federal Government's power at present was limited to disputes which overflowed .from one -State to another. A' Bill was being drafted which would allow of the Arbitration and Conciliation Court to exercise the full powers conferred by the Constitution. If passed it would render impossible such a result in eases within th« jurisdiction- of the Commonwealth as that of the Taff Vale case. The power of ; the Federal Government would be, as ; far m possible, - directed to make picketing a matter of no interest in disputes.