612 PROCEEDINGS OF SECTION F. 



Australia would become the home of capital ; it would flow to 

 the continent for every industry in which it could be profitably 

 employed. 



The next phase in the operation of the system would be 

 to prevent the undue competition between the workers. 

 Restrict the industrial licenses as far as possible to the 

 numbers who can be profitably employed in the particular 

 industries. When the systems were first brought into opera- 

 tion licenses would be issued to all engaged in the particular 

 industries, or to all who had been so engaged within a limited 

 period of time previously ; not to new-comers, possibly 

 flocking to the place to take advantage of the system. If 

 there were a larger number than could be employed, then 

 some time must elapse before the numbers were absorbed and 

 the system came into full operation. There would always be 

 some unemployed— work, of course, varies throughout the 

 year. My contention is, that if a particular industry can only 

 employ say 5000 men, with possibly a further number of 500 

 or 1000 behind them unemployed, it is useless to allow others 

 to compete in that industry ; it is to the injury not only of 

 the workers but to all others in the community. If there are 

 1000 male workers idle, reckoning the rate of wages at £3 

 weekly, there is a loss of income of £150,000 a year, and the 

 secondary incomes being approximately the same, there would 

 be incomes lost to the people of, approximately, £300,000. 



If workers were required beyond the number licensed for 

 the time being they would always be available. Employers 

 requiring particular descriptions of labour would apply to the 

 Bureau of Labour if there were no unemployed, and addi- 

 tional licenses would be issued for the particular employment, 

 either absolutely or for a limited period of time. They would 

 be issued in the first instance to those registered for the 

 particular employment when licenses were available, probably 

 working at other industries. The unemployed in particular 

 industries would obtain temporary licenses for other employ- 

 ment of a kindred or other character. The iron-worker in 

 one branch of the industry would find employment for the 

 time being in another. 



In time there would not be material numbers of unem- 

 ployed in the particular industries — the system would prevent 

 the influx of foreign workers beyond the number required. It 

 would be in Australia as in every other country, it would be 

 the unskilled labour in which there would be the material 

 surplus. When all of those who could be employed had 



