Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants v. Osborne, [1910] AC 87

Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants v. Osborne, [1910] AC 87 House of Lords: HL Earl of Halsbury, Lord Macnaghten, Lord James of Hereford, Lord Atkinson and Lord Shaw of Dunfermline. 1909 Dec. 21 Trade Union--Definition--Objects of... More

Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants v. Osborne, [1910] AC 87 House of Lords: HL Earl of Halsbury, Lord Macnaghten, Lord James of Hereford, Lord Atkinson and Lord Shaw of Dunfermline. 1909 Dec. 21 Trade Union--Definition--Objects of Union--Rules--Parliamentary Representation--Ultra vires--Alteration of Rules--Public Policy--Trade Union Act, 1871 (34 & 35 Vict. c. 31), s. 4, sub--s. 3 (a); ss. 13, 23--Trade Union Act Amendment Act, 1876 (39 & 40 Vict. c. 22), s. 16. There is nothing in the Trade Union Acts from which it can reasonably be inferred that trade unions as defined by Parliament were meant to have the power of collecting and administering funds for political purposes. A rule which purports to confer on any trade union registered under the Act of 1871 a power to levy contributions from members for the purpose of securing parliamentary representation, whether it be an original rule of the union or a rule subsequently introduced by amendment, is ultra vires an Less