from a Parliamentary Correspondent HE Minister of Labour, Mr. Ray Gunter, told the standing committee which is considering the Trades Dispute Bill at the House of Commons on April 8th that he did not believe that trade unions should be above or outside the law. He said: “I would consider it my life’s achievement if we could get the law on industrial relations properly adjusted to modern society. We want to take a long, cool look at the problem and come to terms with it. I want to see the law brought into proper order and the trade unions embraced in it — neither outside nor above the law.” Mr. Gunter said he was not without sympathy with those who thought more protection might be required for the individual in his
dealing with the trade union. Sir John Hobson, former Tory Attorney General, pointed out that the Bill extended an immunity from the ordinary law of the land not merely to trade union officials acting on behalf of members in the negotiations on the terms and conditions of their employment, but to any person becoming involved in a trade dispute. Employers’ associations and their officials would also benefit. Attacking the Bill, he claimed that it put a weapon in the hands of trade unionists to force other men, through intimidation to join a trade union against their will. The Bill, which reverses the Rookes v. Barnard decisions, passed through its committee stage without any amendments,
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