New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-03-24
COMPULSORY ARBITRATION
Strikes 4re Unluvful in australia.
TrRoM THE TRIBUNE BUREAU

iFROM THE TRIBUNE
Washington, March 2s-The bulletin or tho r,,,-
reau CT ahor appearing to-day contains notable
report on labor conditions in Australia which
includes the results of an exhaustive investigate
o. compulsory arbitration of Industrial disputes
This and preceding report on New-ZeaIsnd uer.
pFefafed by Dr.. Victor s. Clark who was com
missioned by Carroll D. Wright to visit AustraIasi sin
Tor the Bureau of Labor 20 study the effects of
aroitraton legislation at the time the Anthracite
coai strike Commission was sitting in this coun-
uF' II represents the result of years nvestiga-
non in the Commonwealth and New-Zealaud
Compulsory arbitration laws are In force in the
colony of New-Zeasnd and the States of New
south Wales and Ecs tern Australia and federal
OH establishing court TO deal with interstate dis
putes was enacted by the Commemorative PsrIia-
ment last December Under the State acts workers
and employers are required to form unions which
are incorporated for the objects of the law by
simply registering with an officer OF the court
ire tribunal consists of a Supreme Court Justice
ana two lay members. The latter are appointed nv
the unions OF employers and workers respective
ly. Any union may apply for an award which shah
presence the minimum rate of wages hours of
"oiA' apprentice conditions and other terms of en-
PioShent In the trade in question. and may be
Siven for a particular locality or extended 10 the
"hole state These awards or orders of the court
are practically legislative acts for which PorI;a
ieht mas delegated authority to the Judge and his
"'9iStshts ana are enforced in much the same
manner as other laws The State of Victoria ar
49, a. l'c same enO Dy CeleGating similar
eis 10 special boards. constituted in each trade
under the factories act The arbitration laws
however make strike or lockout msdemea nor
punishable by fine or mp.s onment This is not so
in Victoria O "
Strikes have occurred under both the New South
wares and the Western Australian law but these
disturbances have not been Formidable as the
Iuds or the Union are practically under the control
or the, court AID organized support could he
gwen TO the strikers No sympa thetic stske has
occurred under the act Employers as a rule, op-
pose the law, as the mana cement of business is
vested largely in the hands OF state officials nv
the growing number of awards and the increasing
extent to which the court enters into the detailed
esuiaton or industry. In New-Zealand and New
south Wales the court is authorized to grant prefer
ehce Of employment to memb beers of unions thus
enforcing the closed shop. However in granting
preference the judge usually requires that as a
condition OF enjoying this privilege the union shall
ADMIT all applicants for membership without ballot
on the payment of moderate fee.
among the economic effects of compulsory arbi-
the r3sice0 n the report are the tendency Of
of employment. thus Creating new problem of of
social sSa distress. and the increased cost of living
INTO INTO effect The unions Of employers while organ
traton act. also become favorabIy situated for con
T,ollng competition In this way the benefit of his
nissher wage is often nullifed for the worker,
,Whe the whole population of consumers pays
higher price for commodities or services an in
direct result Of the awards The experience OF
Australasi with arbitration laws does afford
ilIuCi OASIS LOT an opinion as TO now similar legis
laIlon might work IN the United States the
colonies are still in pioneer stage OF industrial
development in many, respects and do not export
manufactured articles Therefore the court does
not have to take into consideration the conditions
ment.
The report also gives an account of other legis-
lative experiments and of general economic coTldi
lions N Australia, and reviews the history
OF the political labor party, which has
Gently been in control OF the federal gov
eminent. In comparing the condition Of work
ers in Australia and the United States sta
t:stics are given which show that in most skilled
trades The wages hour considerably higher
In this country than in The Commonwealth, while
the cost of living appears to be approximately the
same in the two countries The hours of work are
shorter in Australia. where the eight hour day is
the rule in most occupa tons and therefore the
earnings OF Australian woTkingmen of the class
mentioned in many instances rs to 20 per cent
lower than those of Americans. On the other hand.
unslSilled laboreTs receive higher wage relatively
to The pay Of skilled woTkrnen in Australia than in
the United States. although their total earnings
are probnby higher than IN the latter country.
The two reports the exhaustive study of
the experimental labor legislation of Australasia
that l,as YET been made: and the ~one upon New
Zealand republished by the government of that
country after its appearance In Washington,