We are steadily growing nearer to the final decision as to whether the experiment in industrial regulation is to fail. The present system of having courts regulating wages dates really from 1891-93, the time when employers chided the workers for striking and urged them to take advantage of their political strength and do things constitutionally. That advice was taken, and employers have been greatly perturbed ever since. Courts and Boards were established, and Lebour politicians, coming into existence, saw that these were not packed by tha employers. As a result, wages were raised and collective bargaining was made more effective by the labour organizations than by those of the employers With the war the union leaders clamoured for higher and higher wages, and took all they could out of the situation, long before the actual cost of living had reached the "peak."
Now the cost of production has got to come down. [t has done 50 m several cases, notably in certain mines, and in the case of beef export, but in practically every instance the reduction has been brought about by conference, and not by the direct order of a court. The point is of importance. Labour Telied upon the courts to raise its wages, and the employers submitted today, Labour disdains the courts, until it has fought the matter out privately, and arrived at an agreement. Then the courts are, permitted to play the role of rubber stamp and confirm the arrangement. If one were to take the daily press at its head-line value, we are on the eve of a gigantic irruption, but there seems little reason to anticipate this. There are quite a number of unemployed, and the rank and file of Labour is increasingly insisting that it shall not be pledged without first being heard.
A Commonwealth steamer, the Hobson's Bay, was for two or three weeks actually doomed in advance to be held up by the maritime unions; yet, when the Government said, "We will man the ship as we think fit, or tie her up," all troubles simmered down and the extremist leaders ceased to declaim. Both in Melbourne and Sydney there is a recrudescence of strike threats, but the men do not propose to start. A typical meeting last Sunday, in Melbourne, of gasworkers showed the gradual awakening of the real workers to j their own interest. A thousand men assembled, the extreme element set_up the slogan, "We want a strike." They yelled it through the meeting, they clamoured and doubt. less were not careful to refrain from threats. Yet in the end the real workers declared for peace and the extremists marched out and oon es street, chanting their one and 0} refrain, "We bein ly ain, "We want "a Perhaps the most important and far reaching industria] event has an award by the Federal Arbitration Court which has been ignored, or rather contradicted, by the Queensland State Court. The one reduces wages; the other insists that in the shearing industry there is as yet no reason to reduce the rates for piece work. Shearers receive £2 per 100 for machine shearing, whereas 10 years ago they only received £1. "The Federal Court proposes to reduce the rate to 30/-; the State Court asserts that, judging by the "Stacistician's" estimated cost of living, the amount of £2 is not too high. The matter now stands at that. The constitution provides that where State and Commonwealth laws come into conflict the State must give way, but it is a pretty question as to whether an award of an industrial court may be considered a law. One thing is certain, namely, that the shearers will nov readily consent to their pay being reduced, while the employers will not pay the rates fixed by a State tribunal in defiance of that awarded by a Federal. But the general industrial position is such that it may be expected that a compromise will be reached.
Tua Question or Navat Derenca; Recently an Imperial naval officer, ear-Admiral Dumaresq vho had been lent to Australia as chief commander of the Australian navy, completed his engagement and returned to England. Before leaving, he aid himself out to express opinions about Australia's participation in newal defence, and declared that, when he reached the old country, he would be ashamed of the Commonwealth's small share in Empire defence, and her excessive interest in drink and sport, Naturally, these remarks by an employee caused some sensation, and even more bad feeling. One is inclined to wonder why they were made. Somewhat similar remarks have been lately made in London Lord Lee, but they ware at leaer camouflaged by being made applicable to the whole of the Dominions, while their services during the war were mentioned as something in the way of a set-cif against their supines in the past. In answer, the Prime Minister has resented the remarks of Admiral Dumaresq, and pointed out that, in any case, Australia before the war spent more in naval preparation that all the rest of the Dominions put together. The simple fact seems to be that the retiring British Admiral made certain recommendations, and these were not wholly adopted. Hence his indignation. From the Austra-lion point of view, it is only a
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