president's address — SECTION F. 143 



behind us ; I believe that in no land and at no time has the 

 condition of the worker been equal in present comfort or in 

 future hopefulness to that of his lot beneath the peerless 

 glory of the Southern Cross. That there is grave discontent 

 I have admitted ; but 1 have endeavoured to show that it has 

 arisen from a misconception which can be removed. We, at 

 all events, should feel it a duty to so exert our influence and 

 so use the opportunities at our command that, by wise and 

 prudent counsels, by a fearless exposition of what we believe 

 to be sound economic doctrine, both employers and employed 

 may be led to reahse that in harmony and not in conflict are 

 to be found the true interests of all ; that the welfare of both 

 is to be secured by timely concessions, by mutual confidences, 

 and by a decent burial of the animosities of the past. If my 

 remarks can in any small degree aid in securing so desirable 

 a result, 1 shall feel that the time devoted to them has been 

 well spent. 



Note. — Some of the views set forth above have been stated by me during 

 discussions at the meetings of the Australian Economic Association. They 

 are now for the first time presented in a connected form. 



