16 MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION IN VARIOUS COUNTRIES

which provides (art. 2) that living wages for adult male employees
shall be based on the requirements of a man and wife without children,
 but, in addition, a child endowment act was passed prescribing
a weekly allowance of 5s. for children under 14 years of age. The
total amount of wage plus allowances, however, shall not exceed the
basic wage proclaimed under the act of April 11, 1927, plus £13 per
year per child. The mother will receive the allowances, 3
This legislation was further amended and consolidated by Act No.
45, 1927, which became effective on December 9, 19272 The central
feature of the legislation of this State remains the proclamation of
“living wages” for the whole State. The figure for adult males
which was 85s. per week in 1920 decreased to 78s. in 1922 and increased
 again to 85s. on June 27, 1927 ; the figures for adult females
were 43s. In 1920; 3914s. in 1922, and 46s. in 1927.c
The rates in skilled male trades with strong unions are much
higher; Bootmakers (69s. in Victoria in 1925, p. 12) are, in New
South Wales, to rece ve 100s. a week; coach painters, 113s.; pattern
makers, 123s.; bakers, 127 to 137s.¢
Commonwealth System

THESE State systems are completed by a Commonwealth system
providing for compulsory arbitration of interstate disputes. This
procedure is regulated by the Commonwealth conciliation and arbitration
 act passed in 1904 and amended frequently. It prohibits
(art. 6) entirely strikes and lockouts in these interstate disputes. The
punishment, even for individuals, may reach £1,000 for each violation.
It also provides (art. 11) for the constitution of a Commonwealth
court whose members shall be justices of the High Court. Both
conciliation and arbitration are among the duties of the court. (Arts.
16, 18.) The court may make its awards binding, not only on the
parties to the dispute, but also on other organizations. (Art. 29.) It
1s authorized to prescribe minimum wages and to issue rules as to
licenses for workers unable to earn the minimum wage. (Art. 40.)
Amendments to that legislation are at present before the Commonwealth
 parliament, on proposal of the Prime Minister? which, if
adopted, will harmonize T'ederal and State legislation. The court
will be directed to consider, when making its awards, the economic
consequences of their stipulations upon industry in general and upon
the particular industries affected. The penalty for violation is to
remain at £1,000 for organizations or employers, but is reduced to £50
for other persons. Organizations when fined £1,000 may reduce the
penalty to £100 by expelling the guilty officers. The procedure to
ascertain the legal existence of a strike is to be made more efficient.

2 Monthly Tabor Review, August, 1927, p, 32.
aig ennnional Labor Office. ~ Industrial and Labor Information. Geneva, Mar. 12. 1928,
p. 854.
?An act to amend the constitution of the industrial commission, to amend the law
with respect to the declaration of ive wages and the granting of preference of employment
 to unionists; to amend the industrial arbitration act 1912. and certain other
1cts ; and for purposes connected therewith, (Assented to Dec. 9, 1927.)
Now Sonilt Wales Quarterly Statistical Bulletin, June, 1927, p. 35.
em, p. 33.