PROCEKDINGS OP SECTION (f. 545 



2>ublicatious, a number of which are examined from day to day. 

 Circular letters and blank forms are then sent to responsible re- 

 presentatives of both parties to the dispute. If there are discre- 

 pancies in the information given by these representatives, further 

 investigation is made, generally by the agents. After considering 

 all the evidence to be gained on either side, a summary is made 

 of what the facts seem to be. It may occur, therefore, that parti- 

 cipants or others, supposing themselves to be cognisant of the 

 facts relating to a certain strike, will find the details as exhibited 

 in the publications somewhat different from their own opinions. 

 In explanation it may be stated that the conflicting statements 

 are weighed, and each detail is determined as judicially as pos- 

 sible, making the report not to agree with the testimony of a single 

 individual, but to be in harmony with the concurrent evidence of 

 the majority, or with what seems to be the most reliable evidence. 



6. Labour Organizations. 

 In no other country, perhaps, are statistics of the trade union 

 movement of greater importance than in Australia, where the prin- 

 ciple of granting preference of unionists has been adopted, and 

 where the movement is of such far-reaching political significance. In 

 spite of these facts, such statistics are in this country very incom- 

 plete and unsatisfactory. In fact, in most of the States no reliable 

 or comprehensive information whatever is available. In New 

 South Wales and Western Australia the statutes governing indus- 

 trial conciliation and arbitration have provided a fairly effective 

 method for the collection of such statistics. In these States the 

 registration of unions, while not compulsory, is encouraged by 

 being made a condition of valuable privileges. Similar provisions 

 exist under the Federal Arbitration Act, but they do not seem to 

 have been enforced in so far as the I'egular collection of statistics 

 is concerned. 



The Commonwealth Bureau has now undertaken the collection 

 of statistics of labour organizations on a comprehensive basis. Be- 

 ginning with the current year, in addition to the quarterly returns 

 of membership, annual statements showing receipts and expendi- 

 ture, assets and liabilities, are being collected. In order to show, 

 so far as possible, the history of the movement, particulars have 

 been collected from every known union in the Commonwealth, 

 showing, so far as available, particulars of membership since the 

 year 1891. 



Special returns have also been collected from each union giving 

 information as to its scheme and type of organization, and copies 

 of rules have been furnished to the Bureau. This information 

 afiFords the data for a complete analysis and classification of the 



