12
Some employers can grant better terms,
pay and conditions than can others. Why
then should not their ewplovees share in
their prosperity, instead of being kept on
a par with those working for a struggling
concern.
By individual bargaining the various
units cau arrange their own conditions,
pay ‘increases, ete., irrespective of the flat
rates at present laid down, and labour us
a whole would be the gainer, whilst the
class they profited from would be the
class who could afford to pay.
The arbitrators shonld have the power
to inspect everythiyg likely to throw a
light on the finances of the employer, ace
cess to income tax returns, balance sheets.
phe.
Breaches ‘of agreement. enforcement
sases, ete., should be dealt with as at pre-
sent.
(4) That the constitutions of the unions
provide that:i—
(a), Power to vary, renew, and final
ise agreements be vested in the sec-
retary and executive.
{b) That a secret ballot be taken be-
fore any strike be entered upon.
The only penalty I consider as justified
in arbitration law, apart from the en-
tarcoment cases. wold be imprisoument
Our Industrial Problems.
for the sceretary and exccutive where a
strike is entered into without a secret
ballot, and imprisowment for an employer
who introduces a lockont, unless on the
approval of the arbitrator appointed by the
Court.
Strikes enst Awnstralia mote than
droughts, and if the worker has the secret
pallot, the only strikes will be justifiable
NNER.
To sum up then, the duties of the Court
will be such that thes can devote conside
erable time to obtainiug useful informa-
tion by travel throughout the State, ob-
servation, and facts from the Statistical
Department enabling thew to periodically
issue the minimum rates of pay for all
callings, and this without calling for evi-
dence in open Court. They would deal
with these broad issues only, and each
small unit of workers, protected against
exploitation, could endeavour to advance
by the merits of their own case, not
dragging the drones aiter them, nor being
pushed back by the opportunists on
front.
To prevent Bolsheviem ever taking
firm root, every worker should be a poten-
tial capitalist himself, and the lines indi.
cated lead to that end.
£
«THE WEST AUSTRALIAN”
in proportion to
Population
has the
Largest Circulation in the Commonwealth.
