§ MR. SERJEANT COXsaid, he would beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, When the Report of the Trades Unions Commission is expected; and if it is the intention of the Government to introduce during the present Session any measure for the regulation of Trade Societies? He did not put that question from more curiosity, but because it related to a real grievance. The Commission on Trades Unions, presided over by Sir William Erie, ex-Chief Justice of the Common Pleas, had sat for many months, and had had its martyrs, as the Benches on the other (the Ministerial) side of the House too painfully showed. It had been stated some time since in the public prints that the Report of the Commission might be shortly expected; and just when they were looking for that Report there appeared a little book, written and published by the learned President of the Commission, purporting to be the substance of a memorandum which he had presented to the Commission, giving an exposition of the law as it now stood affecting Trades Unions. That work was a very full, clear, and conclusive statement of the law bearing on that subject; and it was not surprising that, when the members of those societies, who were counted by tens of thousands, read that exposition, they were extremely anxious to know what verdict the Commission over which its distinguished author presided intended to pronounce on them. According to the declaration of the law by the ex-Chief 367 Justice of the Common Pleas, it would seem that the very legality of these trades unions was questioned. It was, at least, difficult for them to know how to act without infringing the law. The unions were consequently placed in a very inconvenient position, and it was not surprising that, having had something in the nature of a judgment passed upon them before the verdict had been given, they should be extremely anxious to learn what that verdict would be. In the event of the legality of the unions being doubtful, he would ask the Government to introduce, without a moment's delay—within a week from the time when the Report of the Commission was laid upon the table—a Bill for the purpose of extricating them from the difficulty in which they would be involved; for, although there might be great difference of opinion as to the nature of the legislation in reference to trades unions, all would, he believed, agree that the existence of the unions must be recognized, although it might be necessary to surround their legal status by certain safeguards.
MR. BRUCEAs I stated to the House the other day, the Report of the Commission may be daily expected. I have had the advantage to-day of communicating with one of the Commissioners, and I have been told by him that the Report is on the point of being sent in. I believe, however, that, although the Report will soon be made public, some little time must elapse before the whole of the evidence is printed; but I have no doubt that it will be ready in time to be fully considered with a view to legislation during the present Session. When the Report has been submitted to the Government we shall lose no time in legislating on a question the importance of which, I agree with the hon. and learned Gentleman, cannot be over-estimated.