28 APRIL 1906, Page 18

On Wednesday the second reading of the Trade Disputes Bill

was moved in the Commons by the Solicitor-General. Sir W. Robson, in a very able and ingenious speech, argued that it was the business of the House to return to the basis of 1871, and recognise that the objects of the Trade-Unions were such as the Courts of Law ought neither to enforce nor prohibit. He defended the amendment of the law of conspiracy so that the non-liability of Unions under this head should extend to civil as well as criminal actions, and the legalising of peaceful picketing. As for the reform of the law of agency, the proposals in the Government Bill were liable to alteration in Committee, and the vote of the Prime Minister and the Attorney-General on Mr. Hudson's Bill

showed the intention of the Government. .