29
OUR INDUSTRIAL ‘PROBLEMS.
By “Arthurian” (J. C. WATERS, 18 Tima-grove, Elwood, Victoria.)
How shall we solve our industrial prob-
(ems?
That question is exercising to-day, move
than at any other time in history, the
minds of all thoughtful persons. Indus-
trial strife plugs progress as effectually as
does a glacier the gnlly of a mountain. It
means lower productivity, which, in turn,
means higher prices. It brings misery and
suffering into thousands of workmen's
homes. It does nobody in this country any
zood, and enables our competitors in
other countries to undersell us in every
department, althongh man for man the
Australian workman is the eaual of any
in the world.
Academie theories on the subject of in-
dustrial peace are as plentiful as black-
berries in season. They are expounded
from every soap box in the Commonwealth,
but, in spite of them, strikes continue to
occur with irritating frequency. It is easy
enough to draw up a formula for the pre-
vention of strikes. - The difficulty is in
prescribing a remedy that both parties
will be willing to take. In other words,
the only worth-while plans for bringing
about a better and more amicable under-
standing between Capital and Labour are
those which are within the realm of prac
Heal polities.
“Man te Man” Discussions.
As our first step along the pathway of
progress and harmony ‘we should scrap
the Arbitration Court. It would be un-
just to describe the court as a failure. The
lot of the Australian unionist -has heen
appreciably improved -as the result of its
operation. But it has served its purpose,
and in recent: years it has failed signally
to prevent strikes or to settle them. Mr.
W. M. Hughes declared in 1922, when he
was Prime Minister, that not only was
the system of arbitration cumbrous and
unsatisfactory, but it was very question-
able whether it did not breed more strikes
{han it scttled.. That view is held gener-
ally to-day, The unions now approach the
Court on the “Heads I win tails you lose”
principle; An award that does. not give
them the concessions they demand is dis-
obeyed. That breeds antagonism,
How much better would it be to have
what might be termed Peace Tribunals
5m each industry, with representatives
~~
il
from both sides, and having full legal
authority to enforce. decisions. A method
of round table conferences on minor mat-
ters would ensure smooth working. Re-
presentatives of employers and employees
would meet in an atmosphere conducive
to reasonable bargaining. Hostility would
disappear as each side put its point of
view and showed how pin-pricking methods
could be abandoned to the benefit of all
concerned, This is not supposition; it is
proved up to the hilt by official statisties.
in 1926, for example, 166 strikes were set-
tled by direct negotiation as against only
13 by the Federal Arbitration Court. /In
1925 the figures were: —Direct negotiation,
200; court intervention. 13. In 1924 the
jgures were 264 and 12 respectively.
Prevention Better Than Cure.
These figures speak for themselves. They
say to the thinking and progressive lead-
ers of industry:—“If we can scttle these
disputes by intervention after they have
happened, why not, in the name of com-
mon-sense, cannot we get together before-
hand to prevent disputes?”
“When the round table conference or
Peace Tribunal failed—probably through
the obstinacy of an individual on one side
or the other—no strike should be per-
mitted without a seceret ballot. With the
secret ballot the hothead would not have
it all his own way. The unionists wife
inows what a strike means. She has ex-
perienced the misery of being unable to
provide her children with proper susten-
ance. Bring her influence to bear upon
the issue, and we may be sure that rash
action will not be decided upon without
deep thought being given to the conse-
Juenees!
Piecework and Co-partnership.
The general adoption of some form of
piecework is highly desirable. Some union
leaders regard the system with suspicion.
But its effectiveness cannot be denied, If
ensures high production, aud it can easily
be safeguarded against abuse. It is a
stimulant to the efficient, who often lack
an incentive to do their best under the
wage system.. In the DPelaco factory in
Victoria, to quote one notable example,
the employees work fewer ‘than’ wages
board hours, and carn more than wages
ooard pay. The employer gains an ad-
zantage in 4 reduction of overhead charges.
and the public gets cheaper shirts.
4 Van and road “The W acter Mail’