CHAP. 3,—REGULATION IN AUSTRALIA 15

&gt;stablishment of industrial boards for all industries considered suitible
 for the purpose by a central board of industry (arts. 253 to 255).
This central board is to be composed of a judge as president, two
representatives of employers, nominated by the South Australian
Employers’ Federation, and two representatives of employees, nominated
 by the United Trades and Labor Council of South Australia—
these persons to be appointed by the governor. (Arts. 253-255.) An
int arbitration court to settle disputes is provided. (Arts.
, 17.
The central function of the determination of a living wage is left
to the board of industry. That board is instructed to inquire into
the increase or deécrease in the average cost of living and to make
corresponding determinations. (Art. 264.) On that general basis
the industrial boards fix minimum wages for time and piece work
for particular industries. (Art. 167.)
Some friction has been caused through the inclusion in determinations
 of industrial boards of clauses dealing with matters outside
their jurisdiction which are not, in consequence, legally enforceable.?
There were also in 1924 an unusual number of cases in which employers
 were not paying the minimum wage, probably because of
lapse of time between expiration and renewal of important awards.

New South Wales

For a long time New South Wales has oscillated between the
method of compulsory settlement of disputes (inaugurated by New
Zealand) and the fixation of a minimum wage prior to any dispute
(inaugurated by Victoria). The application was intrusted to a
“ourt of industrial arbitration and to wages boards, the system being
completed later (through the amending industrial arbitration act of
1918) by the addition of the board of trade, whose main function was
the declaration of basic living wages.2* Three pounds per week was
determined (on September 5, 1918) as the basic wage for adult male
workers in Sydney ; £4 2s. as the state-wide basic wage for other than
rural workers (on October 8, 1921) ; and £3 6s. as the basic wage for
rural workers (on October 20, 1921).22 This system was rather simi-‘ar
 to that of South Australia. Later simplifications were introduced,
 combining the central administrative and judicial functions
in the hands of one body and thereby bringing the method nearer to
‘hat of Western Australia. (See p. 13.)
While this most populous Australian State has for so long pursued
a lnerely eclectic course, in 1927 it inaugurated a new pioneer policy,
differentiating strictly between the basic wage to take care a far
as men are concerned) of the needs of husband and wife, and a system
 of child allowances. An act was passed on April 11, 1927.28

2 Australia (South Australia). Factories and Steam Boilers Department. Report for
he year ending Dec. 81, 1924. Adelaide, 1925, pp, 4, 5.
Australia (New South Wales). Board of Trade. Compendium of Living Wage Dec-Regn,
 and Henan Made by the New South Wales Board of Trade. Sydney, 1922, p.v.
em, . 4, 37, 101.
= International Labor Office. Legislative series, 1927—Australia 2 (New South Wales) :
in act to amend the law with respect to the declaration of living wages; to amend the
ndustrial arbitration act, 1912, as amended by subsequent acts, and the industrial arbiiien
 aanament) act, 1926; and for purposes connected therewith, dated Apr. 11,
L027. eneva.