§ EARL GRANVILLEI wish to say a few words on a subject of some importance at the present time, in explanation of an observation which I made on a former evening during a conversation that took place relating to the unfortunate strike now pending in the building trade. I am informed, although I know not how correctly, that something which fell from me has been misapprehended by the men as conveying an idea on my part that the present stride is likely to exercise a useful influence upon the masters. I wish to explain to the House, in order to correct any misapprehension, that when I spoke upon that point it was entirely with regard to the effect of the anti-combination laws, which, in my opinion, have been most judiciously abolished. I have no hesitation in expressing my opinion, that it would be wrong to attempt to prevent combination among honest workmen for the assertion of their rights; but if workmen combine 904 together to raise wages, or to obtain facilities or advantages for themselves, it is quite clear that such a course to be justifiable must be accompanied by certain conditions. In the first place, it must be clear that their demands are just; secondly, they ought, before embarking upon so hazardous a contest, to ascertain that they have a reasonable chance of success in their undertaking; and, thirdly—a most important condition—it is absolutely necessary that they should not in the slightest degree exercise any compulsion towards others as to entering into that combination. If each individual is left to act according to his own free will, and to assert his own claims in his own way, I hold it is perfectly justifiable for men voluntarily to associate together for proper objects. I beg to say that in any observations which I have made upon this subject I have referred to the general principle, and they certainly did not bear upon the present strike, which, from the explanations of those who defend it, appears to me to be entirely unjustifiable.
§ THE EARL OF ELLENBOROUGHsaid, that as he understood it, the persons engaged in the strike wanted to have nine hours' work instead of ten, at the same wages as they received for the ten. He should not enter into the question what the effect of that would be on capital, and in diminishing the profit on capital; but what he would say was, that the effect of the movement, if it succeeded, would be to, at one blow, strike away one-tenth of the manufacturing power of the country. It would be just as reasonable to diminish that power by decreasing the population of the country to the amount of 2,800,000 persons.