§ MR. BRADLAUGHI beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he will give directions to the Labour Correspondent to inquire and report as to the extent of the establishment and working of Councils of Conciliation under the 30th and 31st Victoria, chapter 105, and of Boards of Arbitration under the 35th and 36th Victoria, chapter 46, as amending the 5th George IV., chapter 96; and, further, to inquire and report as to the causes, if any, pre- 1400 vailing either amongst employers and employed, which have hindered the utilisation in any, and what, trades, of either of such Councils of Conciliation or Boards of Arbitration?
§ *SIR M. HICKS BEACHNo use was made of the Act of George IV., and its existence seems to have been forgotten. When it was enacted the necessary organisations for its successful working did not exist, and its compulsory features and penalties were alike distasteful to employers and employed. Before the Act of 1867 was passed, industrial arbitration was frequently and voluntarily applied. The tribunals proposed by these Acts did not provide for the Settlement of future but only of actual disputes. The Act of 1872 was intended to give further powers in this direction; but so strong a preference has always existed in this country for the voluntary system, that neither of the Acts referred to has ever been called into operation. The two later Acts have only followed, not preceded, the establishment of voluntary Councils, and have only given the sanction of law to a system already largely adopted. Under these circumstances, no special inquiry seems necessary.
§ MR. BRADLAUGHIs it the case that nothing has been done under the Statute?
§ *SIR M. HICKS BEACHThat is so, I believe. The fact is that people prefer to manage their own affairs in their own way.