The Irish standard., 1910-01-01

corporation to risk it, and afford 20
wait for the development. But when
the development does come the peo-
pie. and not a private corporation, reap
the benefit. In this country, for ex-
ample, that sort OF thing could not
happen. The government would have
to give the railway company immense
grants Of land all along the right of
way, and then as the country filled up
with population the increase in the
value of that land would all go to the
railroad. That kind of thing does not
happen in. Australia. All the increase
in the value of the land goes right
back to he'people in the way of re-
duced rates and other benefits, all of
which, under private ownership, would
fall into the pockets of private cap
italists.' sa
+ When requested to say'a word about
the state of labor and capital in his
country Bishop Duhig said: -. 30
SIN Australia we have what is Called
the Federal Efigh Court To this court
are sent all appeals Whenever a. dis:
pute arises between labor and capi-
tai the two sides do their very best
to settle the difficulty privately be-
tween themselves. If, however, they
find that this cannot be done, and an
appeal to arbitration is necessary, this
.casefis set before one of the judges of
the federal high court appointed espe-
Gladly Tor the arbitration of this spa
:cial case. The law requires that this
action be taken If either side demands
1T. This judge sits on the case. OF
course. you understand he has the
power of a court to summon witnesses,
punish for contempt and all that. II
short, he is a Judge of what you might
call the highest court in the land. FIc
listens to the evidence and gives his
decision. Both Sides must abide 81;
that decision:-@Erf one Of them proves
refractory the parties to it are sent
to Jail until they can make up their
minds to obey the decree" -
"Are these decisions always fair?"
Always" replied the bishop. Our
judges are absolutely fearless. Their
decisions are rendered without the
slightest fear of the capitalists. In
the. many DEGREES of strike arbitra ton
we have had in Australia the people !
have been erninently satisfied with the
opinion Of the Judges. This was the
case in the great strike of the sheep
shearers, which took place about two
years age. The demands of the men
were granted; Or, 1 should say. an
equitable Settlement was made. 1t
was fair settlement The same thing
occurred in the big strike at the New |;
castle coal miries last year in New
South Wales, and also in the great
Broken Fill coal strike. The men
struck for more pay and got it" i'!'i.
ais it true that Australia is a labor
bound co.ntry:a Bish6lp Duhig was was
asked. q 'H' ~ : ''F5
: by no means,'' he replied. 1.-THE In
Dor people are not in the majority. A
few years ago. however, they. elected
a government-what we call pun,
labor government-but it lasted only !,
few months. 1t was good govern.
ment and fair one. But it was
thrown out on some big bill forget
what 1t was-so tnat it was not given
a good chance to show Just what It
could do" ~ -
Bishop Duhlg said the old-age PEN
sion plan had worked with splendid
effect in Australia 1t amounts to
$3.50 per week and virtually has abol-
ished pauperism. =: '...'
Il wish to say" continued the bish-
OPP, that the people Of Australia arc
intensely opposed to socialism. They
do not care for, they do not believe in,
socialism. The few socialists that
have been elected have turned around
after. election and become excellent
conservatives. 1t seems that the ac-
tual possession of power sobered them.
We are a peaceful people. We are
happy. we are prosperous and we are
contented. Above all, we are free"