Slike strani
PDF
ePub

PREFACE TO THIRD EDITION, 1895.

THIS new edition of my Handy-Book of the Labour Laws has been prepared at the express desire of the Parliamentary Committee of the Trades Union Congress, supported by a delegate meeting of the trades, and by many personal applications for copies by officers of trade unions, and by the public, for some years past. In response to those solicitations this edition has been issued. The work was originally published in 1876, two editions being exhausted within the space of a few months. Since that date the book has been out of print, and so scarce that I was not able to procure a copy for myself, even for the purposes of revision, until Mr. Charles Fenwick, M.P., gave me his copy.

Many important changes have taken place in the interval, not only in the law, and especially as to procedure, but also as regards the position of workmen under the law. Most marvellous of all is the change in public opinion with respect to trade unions and labour. Trade unions are no longer tabooed. They are commended, and everywhere recognised as a great industrial and social force.

b

Their influence in Parliament is immense, and generally it is regarded as beneficial in its operation and valuable in its results. Every phase of labour is considered and dealt with from the trade union standpoint, in Government contracts and employment, and in all employments and contracts by municipal and all other local and public bodies, as well as by private firms, public and private companies, and by employers generally of whatever degree. Those changes, and the pressing demand for copies of my book, justify me in reissuing the work which was received with so much favour some eighteen years ago.

My object is the same now as it was then-to make the book a useful guide to all whom it may concern, employers and employed. It was never designed as a text-book for the legal profession, it would have been presumptuous in me to have aimed at such distinction. Competent legal advice will be required wherever technical difficulties arise; but in many cases the poor man can now act for himself in most ordinary cases of dispute as to wages, breaches of labour contracts, and the like. Courts of law under these Acts will not refuse justice simply because the poor man pleads his own case. But the litigant, whether as plaintiff or defendant, must know something of the law of the case, as well as the facts relating thereto. The following pages will be an aid in such circumstances, if they are carefully studied.

For the sake of clearness and simplicity I have rearranged the chapters altogether differently. The text of the Act in each case follows the introduction to such Act, and also the Rules of

« PrejšnjaNaprej »