"CONTRACTING-OUT."
[TO THZ EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."]
SIE,—As the question whether or not the right to contract- out of the Employers' Liability Bill should be taken away from free-born Englishmen, has an important bearing upon the present differences between the two Houses of Parlia- ment, may I ask you to allow me to point out what appears. to me some misapprehension of the subject on the part of your correspondent, "J. M. Ludlow," whose letter was- printed in the Spectator of March 3rd.
Your editorial remark, giving a preference to the evidence of the ballot of the London and North-Western men in favour of the continuance of their mutual insurance, and considering it a safer guide to the real wishes of the employes, than the open meeting your correspondent refers to, sounds- perfectly right and just. In support of your view, we find the Member for Crewe driven to disoblige and embarrass his- leader and his party by the amendment he so nearly carried,. and this has been followed by the compromise of the Member for Rugby. Both of these representatives must have been more or less influenced by their constituents.
These private mutual associations are liberally supple-
ented by the employers from mixed motives certainly, but- the desire for goodwill is assuredly not the least of them. If dislike of law proceedings, and the consciousness that defeated plaintiffs cannot pay the defendants' costs, add to the' disposition to encourage such associations, and to contribute- largely to them, that is an advantage which the men possess. under the law as it now stands, and which no new legislation has any moral justification in taking away. The House or Lords has, in this instance, exercised the courage to defend individual rights, according to the best traditions of the country. They may have undertaken a thankless duty which the great majority of their humbler fellow-citizens cannot just now appreciate. The masses are supporting the Trades- Union leaders at present, and fear that independent associa- tions will lessen subscriptions and the discipline of strikes,. but if they have become our masters, they are "still, at least,. our countrymen," and will learn to understand and value the good sense and the good intentions of the Upper House in. less time than its enemies anticipate.—I am, Sir, kc.,
GEORGE SHIITE.
Previous page
