502 PROCEEDINGS OF SECTION GI. 



The outlook is distinctly gloomy, and on the industrial horizon 

 of the Dominion looms a cloud large as a man's hand. It looks as 

 if the period of expansion is ended, and it is said the industries 

 cannot stand added burdens. Meantime the unions, led by social- 

 istic agitators, continue to insistently make demands. Nothing is 

 more likely in the early future than an open defiance of the Act 

 and a general resort to strikes. Already many unions are cancelling 

 their registrations under the Act — in itself an ominous sign. On 

 their side the employers will almost welcome an upheaval, in the 

 hope that some unknown good may outcome. They are tired of 

 the restrictive conditions, the multiplied awards, the reduced out- 

 put per man, and the continuous surveillance by Government 

 inspectors and union secretaries. Both sides seem to be girding for 

 a fight on a large scale. 



General. — It is certain that in Australia the Arbitration Acts 

 have resulted in repressing " sweating," and in materially bettering 

 conditions for the employees. It is to say the least unfortunate 

 that the Acts have also tended to embitter relations between 

 employers and employees. As a means for preventing strikes, 

 Wages Boards are greatly preferable to the Arbitration Court ; but 

 not even the Wages Boards are likely to be of much use, in that 

 particular direction, in a period of declining prosperity and of 

 awards averse to the men. At such a time any system of award, 

 backed by penal provisions, is likely to be one-sided ; to compel 

 the employer, but to be flouted by the employee in any industry 

 involving large numbers. 



The Board or Court should have value for the men, in the sense 

 of a safety valve — or a referee ; something better than the 

 blind, unwieldy, uncertain method of the strike. But it is not 

 right that these tribunals should be used by the men when decisions 

 are favourable, and defied when such do not come up to expectation. 



For the employer the award has a certain value, because he 

 knows that, during its currency, his competitors have to observe 

 like conditions. The fair-minded employer would not demur to 

 reasonable wage increases, commensurate for instance with the 

 higher cost of living, especially in those cases where he is able to 

 pass on the cost to the public in his sale prices. It is the dozen or 

 so awards, with multiplied and detailed regulations, the constant 

 pin-pricks and harassments, which tire and discourage him. It is 

 not desirable for the community that the employer should be dis- 

 heartened, for that means frightening away capital, and without 

 capital the very sources of wealth run dry. 



The awkward feature about the present position is the attitude 

 of the unions. In order to preserve the spirit of unionism they 

 discourage the preferment of the individual worker, and they desire 

 that employees should negotiate through the union rather than 

 direct with the masters. While coal-miners, shearers, type-setters, 

 and some others are satisfied with the piece-work basis, in other 

 directions unionism works hard to set it aside, probably because of 

 the latent fear that it may lead to pace-setting. Although both 



