THE TRADE DISPUTES ACT.
[TO THE EDITOR OP THE "SPECTATOR."]
Sut,—The judgment in the case of Vacher and Son v. The London Society of Compositors, deciding that no action for
libel against a Trade Union can be entertained by any court, has served a very useful purpose by removing any doubt as to the extent of the immunities conferred upon trade unions by the Trade Disputes Act, 1906. By the Trade Union (No. 2) Bill which is now before Parliament the Government is deliberately extending the powers of the unions so that they may enter into trade and compete against others by wrongful means, and yet carry the absolute immunities of the Trade Disputes Act; or they may run newspapers and libel and slander all who cross their path, and yet leave their victims without redress. How powerful this weapon will be in con- tested elections, or trade disputes, is easy to imagine. The judgment will be welcomed by all who had previously recognized the need for an alteration in the law. The first step towards a cure is to rightly diagnose the disease, and now that this has been so ably done by the law lords the poli- ticians cannot long be allowed to shirk their duty. The danger is that in finding a remedy there may be some inclina- tion to go too far, and so create an injustice on the other side.
I would therefore call the attention of your readers to a Bill which has been prepared by the Committee of the British Constitution Association (copies of which can be obtained from their office, 11 Tothill Street, S.W.) and which has been introduced into Parliament by Lord Robert Cecil. This Bill relieves the union funds from liability for unauthorized acts of their members and others only when such acts are effectively repudiated by the managing committee. Again, while allowing the unions all reasonable latitude for carrying out their objects in accordance with their rules, it prevents them from using their great power for the purpose of injuring others. So well does it attain to the happy medium that it has almost, if not entirely, disarmed criticism. The Parlia- mentary Committee of the Trade Union Congress attempted an attack upon it, but were quickly silenced.—I am, Sir, &c.,
11 Tothill Street, S.W.
W. V. OSBORNE.
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