At the meeting of the Central Council of the National
Union of Conservative Associations on Tuesday, Lord Birkenhead made important suggestions for legislation in regard to the trade unions, though he explained that on matters of detail his opinions were merely his own. He said that the Cabinet Committee appointed to consider amendments in the law had met almost daily since the general strike. He laid it down that the main points on which legislation was required were the-circumstance's in' which- tiade - union funds should be made attachable ; the conditions under which picketing should be allowed ; and - the secret ballot. He—admitted- that the difficulties of -arranging fm , secret ballot were considerable, but he believed they could be overcome. The • Cabinet Committee had received overwhelming evidence of fraud in the present ballots. It might be possible to have a postal ballot, the returns being sent to " the appropriate Government official." As regards picketing, he particularly denounced the " cowardly and dishonest " practice of picketing a man's house so that the wife and children are thrown - into a state of terror.
