86 AUSTRALIA 
of strikes. These laws provide that all such disputes shall 
be settled by an Arbitration Court, over which a Judge 
presides, the other members of the Court being representa- 
tives of both sides. It is claimed that these Courts have, 
as a rule, worked satisfactorily. This principle of compul- 
sory arbitration is one of the foremost doctrines of the 
political party known as the Australian Labor Party. The 
weapon employed by the Australian workman to secure the 
eight-hour day was Trade Unionism. From that time on - 
the Laber Party trusted in its unions and fought capital by 
means of strikes and threats of strikes. For a time the 
unions carried all before them, and the men flocked to their 
banners. ‘Trade was brisk and work was plentiful, and the 
unions were able to accumulate very considerable funds. 
They pressed their advantages too heavily and drove the 
employers into a combination against them. The two 
_ opposing forces came into a collision in 1891 in which, after 
a terrible conflict, the trade unions received a very severe 
blow. Since then the method of fighting has been changed. 
Since then the conflict has been waged by the use of the 
ballot and in Parliament with the result that I have already 
in a brief way indicated. The generous measure of self- 
government the people of Australia enjoy permits them to 
manage their own affairs in practically their own way. 
‘The remoteness of their continent, as well as the protection 
of the world’s greatest sea power, has so far ensured their 
immunity from outside interference. For about a century 
they have worked on undisturbed. The old world has 
been torn by wars and revolutions, yet these have meant no 
more to this island continent than so many extra columns 
of interesting reading matter in the newspapers. 
Australians have, however, had recently some keen 
reminders that their lands are broad and their people few’ 
From time to time some great European power has coveted 
one of the many islands that dot the adjacent Pacific waters, 
and has not been content with mere coveting: American 
