36 MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION IN VARIOUS COUNTRIES

lower rates. It is in the interest of the employers to engage clever
workers at prices higher than the fixed minimum. No real disadvantage
 seems to have resulted from this amelioration of the workers’ conditions,
 and the English law of 1909 appears to have been a success.
The Cave Committee report on the working of the British trade
boards acts from 1909 to 1922 states that during the trade depression
 in 1920 there were many complaints because the reduction of
wages, parallel to the reduction of prices and the decreased earning
power of industry, had been too slow. This statement agrees with
that made in Australia that the wage boards resisted the decrease of
wages after the war. The boards make for stabilization, however,
and it is questionable whether the disadvantage in the competitive
power of the industry which may result from resistance to wage
adjustments is not compensated, in the whole of the national industries,
 by the maintenance of the purchasing power of the workers.
The inquiry on which that report is based showed that both employers
 and workers are for maintenance of trade boards for sweated
industries, as provided in the act of 1909. A strong minority of the
employers was also for the maintenance of the act of 1918, providing
for its application to more skilled and organized workers. All workers
 favor maintenance of the provisions of the law for these groups
of employees.
The commission advocated that the minister alone apply the law
and that he establish new boards when unduly low wages are paid
and no adequate machinery exists in the industry for the regulation
of wages. It opposed a national minimum wage. “Where minimum
 rates are required they should be determined with reference to
the circumstances of each trade affected and not on a national basis.”**
Miss B. M. Power, chief of the inspectorate to prevent noncompliance
 with the act, stated in testimony given on February 15, 1922,
that employers welcomed the act of 1909 on account of its influence
toward eliminating competition from sweating employers.*®
Cooperative societies have been unanimous in support of the laws
of 1909 and 1918. Representatives of the Farmers’ Union, on the
other hand, were of the opinion that the law is too rigid in industries
where there are no antisocial conditions.
Many employers went on record as stating to the commission that
they welcomed the protection of decent employers against underselling
 by sweaters afforded by the acts, particularly the act of 1909.
The National Women’s Advisory Committee of the National Federation
 of (General Workers stated before the committee on December
14, 1921,*¢ that in the match industry, formerly one of the strongholds
 of sweating, the workers were then organized 100 per cent.
A match joint industrial council had been established which fixed
rates higher than the trade board rates. A movement was therefore
launched for the exemption of the trade from the trade boards act
under the clause of the act which provides for application to cancel
provisions of the act which have become unnecessary.
Various instances were brought to the knowledge of the committee
where machines were overhauled and commercial organizations per-1
 Great Britain. Ministry of Labor. Report of _he comn ..tee appointed to inquire into
the yokes and effects of the trade boards act. London, 1022.
1 Great Britain. Ministry of Labor. Minutes of evidence taken before the committee
of inquiry into the working and effects of the trade boards acts. London, 1922. p. 911.
18 Tdem. po. 451. 452.