In the Chancery Division on Tuesday Mr. Justice Neville gave
a judgment on the use of Trade-Union funds which is of great public importance. The secretary of the Walthametow branch of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants claimed a declaration that certain alterations in the rules of the Society, providing that funds raised for Parliamentary representation shall be applied under the condition that " all candidates shall sign and accept the conditions of the Labcmr Party, and be subject to their Whip," were ultra elves. Mr. Justice Neville reasoned that as the Society was founded "to improve the condition and protect the interest of its members," it was justified in spending money to "influence the course of legislation." How legislation ought to he influenced was a matter of method for the Society itself to decide, and the Court could not interfere. The action was therefore dismissed with costs. We do not see that Mr. Justice Neville could have decided otherwise ; but we hope that those Trade-Unionists who are not Socialists will be strong enough to prevent the regular and automatic application of funds to Socialistic purposes.
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