The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-01-10
Australian Labor legislation.

Australasia has become to a larger
extent han any other part of the civil
lied world a field for sociaI-political ex-
Fermentation. The New Zealand
scheme of arbitration applied to labor
disputes. which has been in operation
for several years, has now been follow
ed by the Industrial arbitration law re-
Gently enacted by the federal parlia-
ment of the Commonwealth of Austria
liza. In many respects the later enact
ment is far more drastic than it's Zea-
landian prototype, upon which it was
based. 1t goes further than amy previ-
Gus law in the recognition of working
mems organizations; for, while ndus-
trial unions of o employers and en-
plOyeS may become parties to proceed
ings before the tribunal created by
the act, only registered trade unions
may be regarded as representatives of
a g Among the powers del
egated to the arbitration courts is the
authority to direct that, other things
being equal, an employer shall give
preference to unionists when two or
more men shall apply for the same po-
sition. The object of The law is evident
ly to make utilization with a trades
union practically compulsory upon
W~Orkingmen.
The theory seems to be that a trades
union could be more easily held respon-
sible for the enforcement Of agreements
upon wage scales, ETC.. than a large
number of individual workers could be.
It is probably true that DEGREES of in
junction and the levy of fines and pen
alties. whereby obedience to the decis-
ions of the arbitration courts are to be
insured, could be directed more effec-
lively against a few representatives. of
labor than a multitude of men, and
against the sometimes plethoric Golfers
of a trades union than the empty purses
of it's members. 1t remains to be seen.
however, whether self~-respecting work
ingmen will take kindly to the curtail-
ment of personal liberty Involved in the
law. In any event, the exaltation of
trades union officers implied would
seem an experiment of doubtful wis
dom. Really efficient officials of labor
organizations are far from pletiful; in
tact. they are the exceptions.
But the official recognition of regis
tered trades unions is not the most rad
ical departure made by the law. The
powers granted to the arbitration ourts
would be regarded in his and most
other countries as despotic. The courts.
for instance. have the power to de-
clare a standard wage. Tho uts both
way and employees may have occa-
sion to rebel against rulings on this
point as well as their employers. The
courts. furthermore. are to be the reg
~ulators of the main conditions Of en-
ployment. and are t take care these
shall never fal below the standards pre-
vailing in the best conducted establish
ments. When the courts shall hav de-
clored any practice or usage in any in
dustry to be a common rule" confor-
nifty upon all persons employed in such
industry. and obedience may be enforc-
ed by injunctions. ines and penalties.
The act Of the Australian parliament
might properly be called a law in re-
s.raint Of individuality and progress. Its
spirit is certainly opposed to that which
inspired President John Mitchell to re-
mark that the adjustment Of differences
between employers and employees Is
merely a matter for the exercise Of en-
Iightened self-interest n common
sense. The industrial arbitration law
does not treat the parties whom 1t is
intended to benefit as men OF intelli-
gence competent to enter into contracts
conformable to their mutual needs and
desires. but as Children in need OF a
schoolmaster to tell them what Is good
for them and order them to obey under
pain of chastisement- 1t Is kangaroo"
in the full sense Of the word--Philadei-
phia Record