The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-01-24
LABOR LEADER has
AMBITIOUS SCHEME
Awstralian MlnisteP Proposes wide
Changes In LAher's Relations to
Govermments Of the World.

Australian Minister Proposes wide
Governments Of the World.
New York. Jan. s3.--'Labor has won
declared g. s. Beeby. minister Of labor
and Industry of New south Wales, Aus
tralia. in an interview today.
Minister Becky has drawn up an am
httinns scheme of federal laboT, admin-
AsffEt - Ma i. Tx t. Z, 1-r-r--
wealth and sincerely believes the cause
of labor should be administered not
only nationally, but also internationally
along such lines.
The visitor from the Antipodes has
spent three months in the United states
Investigating labor conditions here and
the inception of his plan for Austria
liza has been worked out in line with
his observations. The last but not least
important recommendation in pro-
posed amendment to the Australian
federal constitution Is this:
"A federal council to have the power
to assist In and encourage the estab-
lishment of friendly relationships be-
tween employers and workmen and
disseminate Information as to improved
methods of production and trade ex-
pansiou.'
The vital impetus of Minister Beeby's
scheme Is In the matter of arbitration
and he recommends to his own coun-
try the encouragem of the settle
ment of industrial disputes by confer
ence and negotiation instead OF litiga-
ton, the awards to be compulsory.
Must Take New View.
The world" said Mr.. Beeby. after
accounting his Investigations here.
must approaching the labor question
from new viewpoint. Labor has won
the war and deserves compensation. All
nations must work from basic funda-
mentals and these include, to my mind,
the recognition of unionism, the eight
hour day. fair wages. good living con-
ditions and the restriction of child
labor. Reports from Paris tell of pre-
liminary discussions on some of these
matters by conferees of the associated
powers and l deem this a step in the
right direction for International labor.
There is a tremendous unrest among
labor throughout the world and while
some of the remedies for conditions
have not been articulated as yet never
theless those of us charged with hand
ling the problem ought to anticipate
matters somewhat. broader scheme
is necessary. The fundamentals of
which are the same in all countries.
to what sort of labor he is to employ
to meet his competitors of easy solu-
ton.
In Australia We are attempting TO
anticipate conditions and lessen the
gravity of the unrest by transcending
the state administration of labor with
"a federal scheme
Mr.. Beebys program. which he orig
inaily intended to give out in London,
but was induced to publish here. is as
follows:
Labor il Unified.
The whole industrial power of the
commonwealth of Australia to be
vested In the federal parliament. a
uniform system to be establish ed
ton Of shop and factory. industrial
safety, workmen's compensation and
accident and social insurance; a
method direct of fixing the basic liv-
ing wage: the control OF child labor:
apprenticeship and vocational train
ing; the prescribing Of the standard
working day and all other matters
which directly affect the relationship
OF employers and workmen.
He recommends the superceding of
the present arbitration courts and
wage boards with a national council
| of industry with state and county
councils working under direction OF
! this national body and also Industrial
councils for separate industries and
esta blishments and technical commit
tees. The national council would over
sec the whole administration and
would have broad powers, some Of
which are;
To Compel Arbitration.
To compel parties 10 industrial dis
putes either before or after strik e
or lockout to meet in conference and
state the matter in dispute, the claim
made and the rejoinder thereto; to
wherever any Industrial council fails
to arrive at an agreement ss{ to the
minimum wages and conditions of EN-
plovment applicable to it's industry:
Nnerally to exercise control over
unionism: deal with problems Of in
!termittent empl svmcut: advise parlia-
ment as to alterations in and additions
to Industrial laws and encourage
/ friendly relations between employers
and workmen.
Minister Beeby will soon proceed to
England where his Investigations OF
the labor situation from an interna =
tional viewpoint will be continued. His
work is in line with that carried out
by Australian statesmen in recent
years--a study Of labor and it's wants
from every fundamental viewpoint
Australia is peculiarly q labor coun-
try and solutions of perplexing indus
trial questions have been the primary
works OF her leaders.
!