The Attorney-General admitted the vagueness of definition of a trade
or industry but pointed out that it was actually to the advantage of the unions that they should have the benefit of the doubt. When has " the benefit of the doubt " doctrine failed in English law ? Mr. Oliver Stanley moved to omit the word " calculated " in the phrase " designed or calculated to coerce the Government." Strictly interpreted the words " designed " and " calculated " seem to mean the same thing, but we fear that the Attorney-General in bestowing quite a different sense on " calculated " must have used it in the untidy sense of " likely." However, he bowed to the genuineness of the criticism and undertook to find some new word which would translate " calculated " into something like " destined by its inevitable effects." Finally, he secured a Government amendment making the continuance of proceedings when a person is charged under Clause 1 dependent upon the consent of the Attorney- General. Thus Clause 1 becomes definitely less punitive.
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