Australian Politics

Southland Times, Issue 19202, 13 November 1903, Page 2

Australian Politics

TIUDE UNION LEGISLATION.

Per United Press Association By Electric Telegraph.— Copyright

SYDNEY, Nov. l'J

In tin? State Council, Mr Wise, explaining the Conspiracy Law Amendment Bill, .suit! the judgment in tUft Tail Yale Case seumed to him tho embodiment of comxuon seu.se. Me would never be a Party to doing anything by means of legislation that would alYect the principle upon which that 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 ot" men, whether an association of masters or men. The bill thoroughly accepted the position laid down by the House oi Lords that unionists, if they had tho power, must, with that power, have collective responsibility. He said clause 2 was the only one which in any way bore on the Ta(T Vale case. It reads as follows : — " No trado union or industrial union or association ol employers sihall be liulile in any suit or action, nor shall tho funds of such union or association bo in any way chargeable in respect to any act or word spoken or written during or in connection with ni\ industrial disputo by any agent if it be proved that such agent acted contrary to instructions boiia, fide given by or without the knowledge of tho governing body and that such union or association has bona lido and by all reasonable means repudiated the acts or words complained of at tho earliest opportunity and with reasonable publicity." 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 tile operations of the Act, ajid to place beyond doubt that the object, of the Arbitration Act was to impose upon industrial unions heavy intermediate liabilities. i

Dr Cullen. the only other speaker, strongly opposed the bill. If it passed it would completely exempt unions from the Tall Vale decision. Clause S contained a principle which ought not to be tolerated in any civilised community.

MELBOURNE, Nov. 12. The Income Tax Bill passed the State Assembly.

BRISBANE, Nov. 12

The State Council negatived tl Income T^x Amondment Bill. MELBOURNE, Koy. 12. Received 18th, 0.58 a.m.

At a meeting of the Ministerial party it was decided to ask Mr Irvine to return to the leadership, if Possible. Tho Premier meels his sup-portei-s on Wednesday to discuss tho situation.