19 JANUARY 1867, Page 2

A very important decision was given by the Court of

Queen's Bench on Wednesday. The Leeds branch of the United Boiler Makers and Iron Shipbuilders' Society was sued by a member under the Friendly Societies' Act for 24/. The magistrates held that such a suit must be dismissed, the society being really a Trade Union, acting "in restraint of trade," and therefore un- lawful, and this opinion was upheld by the Chief Justice and three puisne judges. All the Trades' Unions are therefore beyond the Friendly Societies' Act, and can be managed as the members please, the latter, again, having no security except promises that any agreements will be kept. We should imagine, also, that as insurance offices these Unions are, since this decision, simply huge copartnerships, with unlimited liability, each member being re- sponsible for all the funds subscribed.