500 PROCEEDINGS OF SECTION GI. 



by the surroundings — though this is a statement the Labour 

 representative in Parliament would indignantly deny. 



Victoria.- — The crisis of 1893 left behind it an aftermath of 

 industrial depression, which, in turn, led to a considerable amount 

 of " sweating " by the less humane employers. To check this, six 

 Wages Boards were appointed in 1896 for those industries where 

 sweating had been most prevalent, and additional Boards to the 

 number of 21 were appointed in 1900. Then inter-State freedom of 

 trade, set up by the Federation, in October, 1 901 , backed by a number 

 of good seasons, greatly improved trade in all its ramifications. 

 Victoria was in the depths in 1893, but the period since then has 

 been one of almost unbroken ascent. 



The Victorian Wages Board system is based upon the idea of 

 settlement by the parties, rather than by external authority. The 

 chairman has a casting vote, and the discussion is by experts in the 

 particular business concerned. Witnesses on oath can be sum- 

 moned, but this is rarely necessary. In effect the decision on any 

 given point lies in the hands of the chairman ; but it is, to say the 

 least, remarkable how often such points are settled without neces- 

 sitating resort to his casting vote. Appeals lie to an Industrial 

 Court, presided over by a Supreme Court Judge, whose decision is 

 final, but the Court is rarely invoked. There are statutory 

 penalties for breaches of awards, and there is no provision for 

 preference to Unionists. 



To-day there are 88 Boards. With the exception of the 

 bakers' strike, in 1907, there has been no strike in a trade for which 

 a determination of a special Board was in operation. Trouble has 

 occurred in one or two cases which were taken to the Industrial 

 Court of Appeal. There is nothing to compel employees to work 

 at the rates fixed ; but, with the exception quoted (the bakers), 

 there has been no refusal so to work. 



Generally it is conceded that the Act has greatly improved the 

 conditions of the employee, and strikes have been so far conspicuous 

 by their absence. 



On the whole it would be premature to affirm that the Victorian 

 Wages Board principle has completely justified itself, in the sense 

 of abolishing strikes, for it has not yet stood the test of declining 

 prosperity and awards adverse to the men. Probably, as elsewhere, 

 it would, under those circumstances, break down. Meantime there 

 is no doubt the mutually made Board award receives a far wider 

 acceptance by the men than was the case, for instance, with the 

 Court award of New South Wales. Possibly industrial heat is not 

 as easily generated in Victoria as in New South Wales, for in New 

 South Wales are two centres — Newcastle and Broken Hill — where 

 the employees are in such preponderating numbers that local public 

 opinion is practically unleavened by any conservative or employer 

 point of view. However, as a solvent to date of industrial differ- 

 ences, it can be safely said the Board is greatly superior to the 

 Court. 



