Our Industrial Problems. 
tiently acquiesce in methods which end in 
loss and disaster. . 
The fear, expressed by many advisers in 
trades uuions, that any departure from 
traditional policy will weaken the allegi- 
ance of members, is rather a confession of 
opinion that trade unionists are not pre- 
pared to face the issues inevitably arising 
from the march of events, and can only 
maintain: nunity by ignoring them. 
A change in this attitude is the first es- 
sential step in securing industrial peace. 
Without independent public support, trade 
gnionists would not have secured the ecn- 
actment of ameliorative industrial legisla- 
tion, of which industrial arbitration may 
be regarded as the most important 
item. Such legislation was secured 
on a distinct promise that those 
who availed themselves of it would aban- 
don strikes and stoppages of work. A 
reasonable standard of morality demands 
that trade unionists, as the sponsors of 
compulsory adjustment of disputes, must 
declare definitely for or against it, and 
having made their decision. stand by it 
honestly, 
In attempts at conciliation in industrial 
conflict, much friction would be avoided 
if the exeeutives of employers and work- 
ers’ organisations insisted on a reasonable 
measure of control of negotiations conduct- 
ed by paid officers. Too frequently the 
prospect of amicable settlement of disputes 
is ruined by the curt, domineering, and 
tactless officiousness of paid officials, of 
one or both sides. Next to ability, tact 
and decent manners ought to be regarded 
as essential qualifications for such employ- 
ment. 
Industrial peace can be promoted in a 
very viggl way by a stricter regard to the 
facts of industrial production by those 
who are more interested in disseminating 
a party view of its problems, On one 
pide arbitration is condemned for its fail 
ure to prevent strikes, while advocates in 
the opposing party will condemn recourse 
to these tribunals ag a deceptive palliative, 
As a matter of fact, a survey of our indus- 
trial history since wage fixing law was in. 
stituted in Australia, proves that a very 
large proportion of industry is carried on 
continuously under the protection of arbi- 
tration awards. or under industrial agree- 
ments voluntarily conciuded between the 
parties concerned. This is true in a greater 
measure in New Zealand, which has a re. 
cord of many years in the succesful appli- 
cation of industrial legislation. If this in- 
formation was carefully compiled and made 
available for publication it would surprise 
most people to know how much of our 
work is earried on peacably. Spectacular 
disputes in the shipping and waterside oc- 
cupations, give undue prominence to these 
instances of industrial ferment to the ex- 
clusion of reasonable consideration of the 
other side of the picture. 
Need For Research. 
The dearth of authoritative information - 
on the economic results of the application 
of these various and conflicting theories 
for deciding industrial issues is a serious 
obstacle to clear thinking on these mat 
tera. There is splendid scope here for 
some research organisation which will 
draw recruits without regard to political, 
social, or industrial aftiliations, the simple 
gualification being an earnest desire to 
marshal the facts which it is necessary to 
know if public opinion is to be intelligent. 
y guided. 
It would be fatal to the prestige of 
such research organisation to be associ. 
ated with any political party. From the 
Universities of Australia we ought reason 
ably to expect guidance in the spirit of 
searchers for the truth, wherever that 
serach may lead. Investigation might well 
begin with & careful study of the following 
matters:— 
L The volume of industry continuous 
y conducted under arbitration fribu- 
pals as compared with callings in 
which strikes are sporadic. 
.b) Piecework—methods of safeguarding 
workers from exploitation and ensur- 
ing a reasonable standard of workman- 
ship. 
(e) Customs tariff influences. 
‘d) Industrial co-operation, profit shar. 
mg and co-partnership. Study of acs 
Just results in countries where adop~ 
ed. 
{e) Methods of production and market. 
ing and their influence on the profit 
able use of Australia’s resources. 
{f) Educational development. 
These are only a few suggestions and 
aot intended to exhaust the useful chaps 
nels of research. (iver a few years of 
patient and earnest work, sueh an orga. 
nisation could hepe to svin increasing re- 
spect and support, and we might then be- 
gin to amass the wealth of information 
which has rewarded the systematic study 
of industrial conditions in the United 
States of America, and has fostered the 
co-operative spirit .among manufacturers 
in their united efforts at productive res 
search. 
It must be admitted that the foregoing 
suggestions for earnest action by employ- 
ers and workers’ organisations to assist 
in promoting industrial peace will win 
only an impatient negative {rom many of 
those zealous spirits who have their vision 
fixed on the Socialist State. These, how- 
ever, must recognise that the doubtful re- 
sults of their tentative experiments in 
this direction have not convinced . that 
large, politically-unattached section of the 
public which has given Labour generous 
support in the past, in favour of further 
trial. Of the theories of (ommunism— 
that plant of alicn nurture—it may be said 
that the mischievous influence in industry 
is in grotesque disproportion to the num- 
bers of its professed adherents in Aus- 
tralia, Communism is ofiicially discoun- 
senanced by the Labour Party in Aus- 
tralia, but the exensmmunication of 
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