The sun., 1903-08-02
AUSTRALIANS LABOR CRISIS
A HALT ON UNTONISM CALLED
IN SELF-DEFENCE.



by Public OplnloB-Faiire nj LABOR
Asstators to Coerce the Min'stry'
Australia has often been called the para
disc of the workingman, and not without
reason. Living expenses are small; iooo
is good, cheap and plentiful; the climate
IL mild and healthrul and the system OF
government liberal and democratio'
Except in times Of extreme depression
work Ia plentiful and wages high. Inc
worknRm ms children have the advantage
of "A splendid system Of free, secular and
compulsory education. Rents are rea-
sonahle and good agricultural land may
he obtained from the Crown on easy terms'
Yet, with all these advantages. the coun-
try has not prospered AZ she should. FOR
the last ten years abe has been checked IN
her career Of progress. and though series
Of dry seasons eliminating in the disastrous
and Unprecedented drought OF last year
are largely responsible for her temporary
staenation. there is another trouble that
lies deeper still.
That trouble is the persistently stupid
selfish and short-sighted class legislation
for which the Australian workingman
has been directly responsible. A young
and growing country with total indebt-
edness Of Si.025, 600 600 and a population
Of less than 5000. 900 to bear the burden
has need of the most careful legislative
guidance and her finances should be ad-
ministered in the most scientific way.
II Is true that OF this sum at least $780,
zoo 600 has been spent In railways. tele-
graphs, post Offices, water supplies ana
other reproductive works, while the bal
ance is secured more than ten times over
by Australias unimproved land values
alone. None the less investors have been
badly scared and the country as whole
has been made to suffer by the policy OF
ignorant labor leaders in the various states
Immigration, not Of alien races only,
hut of their own British fellow subjects,
has been arbitrarily and outrageously
estricted. factory and shipping acts have
been passed apparently with the express
idea of hampering business. and capital
generally has been treated as legiti-
mate object of spoliation.
Listening to the spectous pleas OF the
demagogue and the agitator the labor
party has self1shly tried to secure its own
advantage In contempt Of the rights OF all
Others in the state. and as n consequences
has injured Austria without benefitting
itself. In endeavoring TO secure complete
legislative control and to run the country
as a close borough with light labor and an
artificial rate of wage it has at last gone
too far and quite recently crisis was
reached and organized labor in Australia
was taught lesson that Is OF interest to
the world at large.
Uuionism out there has gradually been
working toward a point at which it was
obvious that the State. in self-defei CO, must
call a halt. Fortunately for Australia,
she has a sterling judiciary that is not
under political control and her Judges
have always fearlessly administered the
laws with respect to intimidation or inter-
ference with the non-union laborer.
Recently. in case after case, the Shearers'
Union has been cast in heavy damages
for offences committed by its members
in the shearers' strike Of last year; and
in some instances the union has paid the
woolgrower in full for all damage he suf
fered rather than 60 to trial. In still
later instance the recent Victorian Railway
strike has clearly proved the essential
weakness of unionism when it endeavors
to overbear the rest Of society.
The State Of Victoria. though the smallest
in area, is one Of the most prosperous OF
the Commonwealth. Her geographical po-
sition renders her less liable than her sister
States to the droughts that have recently
done such damage. and under high
protective tarin her manufacturing in
81,
basis.
Most OF the Australian capital that has
developed the vast pastoral areas of Queens
land ard New South Wales and the rich
gold fields of the west has been provided by
her sntsrprising citizens. Her railways
like those Of all the States, are the property
of tho Government and are run. not for the
profit, but for the benefit Of the people
They give employment 10 some II 600
men. who are all we'll paid. have good
hours and are entitled to pensions after
q certain term OF service.
The Victorian Trades Hall IL the central
organization Of unionism In the State and
the headquarters of the labor party 1t
practically selects the labor candidates
for Parliament and dictates their policy
when elected. II has long aimed to con-
troll the administration, and has frequently
endeavored to force the hand of the Gov
ernment and to coerce Ministers into grant
ing it's demands.
The railway employees are public servants
and as such are expressly debarrod by a
service regulation from affiHating them
selves with any political association. The
Trades Hall. thinking the time opportune
for trial Of strength, determined to bring
the railway men into line. and recently
called upon them to enroll themselves
though to do so would be to render them.
selves liable TO be called out on strike al
any moment by the executive Of a trade
union political association.
When the engine drivers announced their
intention Of coming into line and atfiliating
with the Trades Hall. the Government
promptly forbade them, on the reasonable
grounds that they were dcbarred by the
service regulations and that the State
recognized no executive authority othel
than its own over its employees. Insti
gated by the Trades Hall the engine driver.
insisted and the Government stood firm
Either it's employees must conform with thC
service regulations or they must leave the
service, which meant, incidentally. ths
forfeiting Of pensions.
Here. tsen, was no question Of a grievanc,
10 be adjusted. but a deliberate issue raised
nv unionism as 70 whether the Stat,