14 MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION IN VARIOUS COUNTRIES

trial unions of the workers, and a judge (art 43), may declare these
industrial agreements common rules for the industry (art. 40). The
court shall also decide all industrial disputes (art. 59), and is authorized
 to prescribe minimum wages. It may delegate to other
tribunals or persons authority to issue licenses for work at lower
wages for infirm, aged, or junior workers (art. 92).
The court may recommend to the governor the appointment of
industrial boards and empower these boards to undertake inquiries
and to make determinations and awards in industrial disputes.
(Arts. 84 and 107.) In the first half of June of each year the court
shall declare: (a) A basic wage for male and female workers; (5)
wherever necessary, particular basic rates for special areas. A basic
wage is to be considered “a sum sufficient to enable the average
worker to whom it applies to live in reasonable comfort, having
regard to any domestic obligation to which such average worker
would be ordinarily subject.” (Art. 121.) No minimum wage
shall be fixed at less than the basic wage. (Art. 92.) No award or
industrial agreement shall prescribe a lower minimum wage than
the basic wage except for junior, infirm, or aged workers or apprentices.
 (Art. 121.)
Strikes and lockouts are forbidden. The penalty for noncompliance
 with this provision by employers or industrial unions of the
workers is fixed at £100 oi by others at £10. (Art. 129.)
In the year ending June 80, 1926, 26 industrial agreements were
converted into general awards for the areas to which they applied.
In 307 cases intervention to enforce awards was necessary, and payment
 of back wages amounting to £625 was ordered.’ On June 11,
1926, a basic wage of £4 5s. was declared for adult men and £2 5s, 11d.
for adult women.
The number of inspectors was found to be insufficient to check up
on the application of all agreements and awards,*® which is comprehensible
 when taking into account the size of the State, 976,000
square miles, and that it has a population of only 885,000 persons.*®

Queensland

Queensland also relies mainly on a central body which fixes basic
wages’ and determines conditions of labor. There have been frequent
 violations of arbitration awards. The prosecutions increased
rom 345 in the year ending June 30, 1925, to 441 in the year ending
June 30, 1926.18

South Australia

South Australia combines features of the court and the board
system.’ The act of January 6, 1926 (art. 144), provides for the

# Australla (Western Australia). Department of Labor. Annual report for the year
1925-26. Perth, 1926, p. 23.
15 Idem, p 30.
* Australia. Bureau of Census and Statistics. Quarterly Summary of Australlan Statistics,
 Melbourne, September, 1927. .
“International Labor Office. Legislative series, 1925—Australia 4 (Queensland) : An
act relating to the basic wage for employees who are governed by awards or industrial
agreements, dated Sept. 28, 1925. Geneva.
18 Australia (Queensland). Department of Labor, Reports for years ending June 30,
1925 and 1926. Brisbane, 1925, &amp; 4, and 1926, p. 5. .
® International Labor Office. egislative serles, 1926—Australia 1 (South Australia) :
a So Jo amend the industrial acts 1920 to 1924, and for other purposes, dated Jan. 6.
ENAeVA.