486 TRANSACTIONS OF SECTION F. 
and tastes of the boy seeking employment. On the former point a considerable 
body of evidence is readily available, and more can be obtained without serious 
difficulty. The second point presents many more obstacles. The chief sources of 
information are: (1) The boy himself, (2) his parents, (3) other persons interested 
in him, such as members of the school care committee, (4) the reports from his 
school. 
Of these sources of information the possibilities of No. 4 have as yet hardly 
been recognised in England, with the exception of the reports relating to health. 
The school reports on other matters could be extended, and could be based on 
evidence collected, by experimental or other means, directly with a view to find- 
ing the special qualities whose presence or absence is important as a guide to the 
selection of work. 3 
3. Inlerim Report on the Question of Fatigue from the Economic 
Standpoint.—See Reports, p. 175. 
4. Industrial Arbitration in relation to Socialism. 
By F. A. A. Russeuu, M.A. 
The system of Industrial Arbitration commenced in New South Wales by the 
Act of 1901 (Mr. Wise’s Act), the Board system introduced by the Act of 1908 
(Mr. Wade’s Act), the rapid creation of Industrial Boards dealing with nearly 
all industries in Sydney and in many country parts. This Act becomes a means 
of vapid introduction of State regulation of labour both as to wages and other 
industrial conditions; the system of the Wade Act continued and enlarged by the 
Act of 1912 (Mr. Beeby’s Act). So that for most practical purposes we may 
regard the operation of Industrial Arbitration from 1908 to the present moment 
as the working of a continuous system, subject mainly to some difference of 
administration. 
A. First main result of the 1908 Act:—(1) The spread of unionism is 
assisted and accelerated both in the country and in the metropolis in industries 
where it had before very little foothold, and (2) the consolidation of unionism 
where it already obtained. The 1912 Act helps on completion of this process. 
B. Further results :—It is my opinion, and I shall attempt to show, that the 
Wade Act introduced a larger measure of Industrial Socialism than the leaders 
of the party which passed it realised at the time. Suggest there are few people 
who realise now the changes capable of being achieved in the industrial structure 
of society, and which are in part occurring at the present moment, under these 
and similar Acts. 
Some description of the more important controversies which have arisen in the 
working out of the system and some understanding of the stages reached to date 
on the lines of these controversies required to illustrate these views. 
(1) Preference to Unionists tends to drive all men into Unions; the mild form 
in which it is allowed in New South Wales tends to mitigate personal hardships 
in transition stage; its chief value to the Unions lies in fact of further recog- 
nition, plus an organising value—not directly injurious to employers (unless the 
whole system is injurious)—a part of a Socialist movement, but right in kind. 
Combat the idea that personal freedom is really menaced by unionism. 
(2) The lines of development of unionism, and of the jurisdictions dealing 
with industrial matters. The Crafts v. Industries argument in relation to the 
principles on which Unions are constituted, and jurisdictions dealing with them 
marked out. Larliest administration of the Beeby Act represents high-water 
mark for Craft Unionism in New South Wales. Both the Craft and the Indus- 
tries Union are necessary. The problem of adjusting their rights. Opinion that 
Unions constituted on the Industry basis are the more suited to modern develop- 
ments, and the mere force of circumstances is favouring this principle of con- 
stitution, while the Crafts Unions act as a conservative check. The Industries 
Union may favour Syndicalist action, but any danger in that should be averted 
by means other than an attempt to favour the Craft Union. 
