MASTERS AND OPERATIVES.—LEAVE. (Hansard, 9 August 1859)

MR. MACKINNON

was understood to say, that the reason why he moved for leave to bring in a Bill at a time when a prorogation was so near at hand was, that the Bill might be printed and circulated through the country, so that hon. Members when they met again might form their opinion on the subject, and thus be in a position to legislate at an early period of the next Session. As some attention had been directed to this question by the strike which had lately taken place in the metropolis, and as many recently elected Members had not had the opportunity of considering the subject, he would briefly state to the House what took place in a former Parliament. Two years ago it was thought advisable by the House a Committee on the subject of Equitable Councils of Conciliation should take the matter into consideration, and of that ordered Committee he had the honour of being the chairman. The Committee had no feeling on the subject except a desire to arrive at the truth in regard to the operation of the present law and to do justice to all concerned. They examined many witnesses, both masters and operatives, men of intelligence and good information and well acquainted with the subject. They also obtained information from France and Belgium as to the 1273 manner in which the conseils des prud'-hommes worked on the Continent. The evidence before the committee of the masters was rather contradictory, some being for equitable councils and others against such a measure. The evidence of the workmen, also, was of the same character, and preponderated in favour of the proposed alteration. All witnesses, both masters and workmen, had stated that the law, as it stood at present, was inoperative, and that some amendments ought to be made. The reference to a magistrate was disliked by the workmen, under the impression that the magistrate, except perhaps in the metropolis and other large towns, was himself a manufacturer, or a friend or associate of their master, and also that he was not competent to decide the question. But even as regards the metropolis an instance came before the Committee, which was as follows:—Mr. Hammill, the police magistrate for Spitalfields, when examined, stated the difficulty under which he laboured and the annoyance he felt at being obliged to decide the dispute between a silk weaver and his master: the latter said the silk was not well woven, the operative said it was. The magistrate could not decide, knowing nothing of the process of silk-weaving, and if he decided might give a wrong judgment. In fact, some other tribunals were necessary. Such was the general evidence given before the Committee, and as Chairman of that Committee he communicated with the French Ambassador here, and with M. Van de Weyer, the Belgian Minister. Both these gentlemen in the most kind and friendly manner obtained and sent him very voluminous papers to be laid before the Committee, the tenor of which was, that both in France and in Belgium the conseils des prud' hommes answered well and prevented disputes. For instance, it appeared from the information thus obtained that between 1850 and 1851 the number of disputes which arose in France between masters and operatives was 28,000, and of these 26,800 were settled by councils of conciliation. Now, adverting to the melancholy result of a strike that took place last week among the builders in this town, there could be no doubt that if an equitable Council of Conciliation had been in existence that strike would not have occurred. What was the case? The workmen in the present; strike, without any previous notice, sent an uncourteous message to their masters insisting on such a concession, The masters, annoyed both 1274 at the demand and at the manner in which it was made, refused. Both parties felt exasperated, and a strike was the consequence. Now, if five well-informed workmen, representing their body, had met five intelligent masters, discussed the question quietly, and arrived at some understanding, all asperities would have vanished, and good feeling have been restored. In bodies of men, whether educated or not, anger or approbation were like an epidemic, and became contagious at last—they spread through numbers Now, let him remind the House that Sunday Schools, cheap periodicals, facility of communication, and other causes had very much increased the information among the working classes; every one must perceive how their manners, their temperance, and their general conduct had improved; a mere act of Parliament, if they considered it to be partial, had no weight with them. Such, it appeared, was the case with the Act made in reference to the dispute being settled by a magistrate. Let him, therefore, express a hope that early in the ensuing Session, an Act establishing Equitable Councils of Conciliation might pass this House. So important a measure ought not to be delayed. It ought to be taken up by the Government, who, both from the weight their situation gave them and also from the information which they could so easily obtain, were in the best position to deal with it. In conclusion, he would move for leave to bring in a Bill to establish Equitable Councils of Conciliation to adjust differences between masters and operatives.