New Liberalism: Problems Balfour dealt with 1901-1905

The Taff Vale Case, 1901

Trade unionists felt legal rights were under attack
1890, Quinn vs Leathem Case, Strike organisers were liable to civil action by employer
1900, Strike against Taff Vale Railway Company, South Wales occurred
The company won against Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants
ASRS had to pay £23,000 damages
This would ruin the unions if they were sued for damages
Instead of reversing the judgement Balfour's cabinet set up a royal commission
The Labour Representation Committee (LRC) benefited due to the boost in trade affiliations
LRC came to a deal with Gladestone (Liberal Chief Whip) to be allowed 35 constituencies where they could campaign for anti-conservative votes
In return LRC wouldn;t stand against Liberals in England or Wales
Balfour failed to help the unemployed
1905, Unemployed Workmen Act helped urban unemployed (done by Asquith)
Unionists appeared callous

1 of 6

Established secondary school framework
1870 Act only established provision for primary schools
Many school boards used money for advance courses for senior pupils
Old School Boards were abolished
Local Education Authorities took responsibilities
Church schools received funds
Grant aided schools increased from 94,000 in 1905 to 200,000 by 1914
LEA schools developed for those with ability
None conformists hated it: 'Rome on the Rates'
Wanted Church School education to wither away
Reason Education Act was supported could be said to be Britain's need for quality technical education
Balfour's 'blindspot' as he failed to grasp indignation he caused
7000 prosecutions of people refusing to pay the rates in 1903 due to this act
Event galvanised the flagging Liberals
It heal the rift between pro-Boers (David Lloyd George) and Liberal Imperialists (Herbert Asquith)

2 of 6

3 of 6

Balfour could have stopped it
It sent thousands of Chinese labourers to South Africa
Caused a lose in electoral popularity
British High Commissioner, Lord Milner, wanted to rebuild the economy of South Africa after the Boer Wars
Gold mines needed workers and the Chinese were the answer
At first it was overruled by Chamberlain as he said it would provoke hostility
1903, Chamberlain had left the Cabinet so the plan was sanctioned
Chinese labourers were herded into labour camps with appalling conditions
People believed it to be morally wrong
The white working class was angered as it closed their scope for emigration to South Africa as well as the jobs being given to Chinese migrant workers
The Government lost the support of the working class

4 of 6

Tariffs based on retaliatory tariffs, controls on selective import and imperial preference
Chamberlain wanted to challenge orthodoxy of free trade
Free trade meant cheap imports on food and raw materials which Britain relied on heavily
Germany had already put tariffs on Britain
Some thought it would boost home industries
Chamberlain said it would create 3/4 million more jobs
Stronger economy would mean more taxes thus Old Age Pensions could be brought in
Imperial Preference: Empire would become closer
It would benefit Australia and New Zealand due to low rates of duty with Britain
C.T.Ritchie, Chancellor of the Exchequer stopped Chamberlain as he wanted free trade
Balfour backed Ritchie
Chamberlain made a speech, 15th May 1903 that rocked the Party's foundations
It appealed to patriotic and imperial sentiments

5 of 6

6 of 6