COMBINATION LAWS. These laws, which were an object of much solicitude to manufacturers and artizans, were repealed in 1824. Till then any combination of any two or more masters, or any two or more workmen, to lower or raise wages, or to increase or di minish the number of hours of work, or quan tity of work to be done, was punishable at common law as a misdemeanour ; and there were also thirty-five statutes in existence, most of them applying to particular trades, prohibiting combinations of workmen against masters. The act passed in 1824 repealed all the statute and common law against com binations of masters and of workmen, provided a summary mode of conviction, and a punish ment not exceeding two months' imprison ment, for violent interference with workmen or masters, and for combinations for violent interference ; and it contained a proviso, with regard to combinations for violent inter ference, that no law in force with regard to them should be altered or affected by the act. But, all the common law against combinations being repealed by the act, this proviso was considered as of no force ; and the act also went beyond the intentions of the framers in legalising combinations unattended with violence for the purpose of controlling masters in the mode of carrying on their trades and manufactures, as well as peaceable combinations to procure advance of wages or reduction of hours of work.
Immediately after the passing of this act a number of widely-organised and formidable combinations arose in various trades and ma nufactures for the purpose of controlling the masters as to the way in which they should conduct their business ; and the extent to which the act had repealed the common law being doubtful, and the act having clearly gone beyond the resolrtions on which it was grounded in legalising combinations, the act of 1825 was passed, which is the act now in force relative to combinations. It relieved
from all prosecution and punishment persons meeting solely to consult upon rate of wages or hours of work, or entering into any agree ment, verbal or written, on these points. And it provided a punishment of not more than three months' imprisonment, with or without hard labour, for any one using violence or threats to make a workman leave his hiring, or return work unfinished, or refuse to accept work, or belong to any club, or contribute to any common fund, or pay any fine for not be longing to a club, or contributing to a common fund, or refusing to conform to any rules made for advance of -wages or lessening of the hours of work, or regulations of the mode of carrying on any business, and for any one using violence to make any master alter his mode of carrying on his business. By this act therefore, combinations of masters and work men to settle as to rate of wages and hours of labour are made legal : but the common law remains as it was as to combinations for other wise controlling masters. This enactment does not necessarily interfere with plans for joint enterprises among workmen. [Co-OPn AATIVE SYSTE us.]