56 MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION IN VARIOUS COUNTRIES

work has been admitted by all. Employers were much impressed by
the declarations of other big employers of high standing, whic
defended that point of view and were either eager to show that their
own wages were in agreement with that general principle or else that
they would try to adjust them accordingly. The legal department of
the employers’ associations helped in the framing of the act.

Public Opinion

Professor Mackintosh, of the department of commerce of Queens
University, states * that there is widespread satisfaction with the
operation of minimum wage laws in Canadian Provinces.” Professor
 Jackson, of the University of Toronto, states *° that the Minimum
Wage Board of Ontario has * functioned successfully.”
Questions have been raised as to the degree of obedience to its orders on the
part of certain individual firms. There are labor men in this Province who
would tell you that there is a good deal of evasion. I have followed carefully
the only public hearing of this question which there has been and have gone into
the matter personally with the chairman of the minimum wage board, Doctor
Macmillan, and his staff, and have come to the conclusion that this complaint
is not well founded.
The resolution of the Canadian House of Commons in March, 1926
(see p. 62), received its impetus from the satisfaction as to the application
 of the minimum wage laws.
Summing up the Canadian minimum wage legislation it appears
that such legislation has eliminated sweating of female employees,
helped skilled employees further to increase their wages, has not led
to any serious unemployment, and has been a factor for industrial
peace and for greater efficiency in industry. There are no apparent
efforts from responsible quarters opposing its maintenance or the
extension of the legislation from women’s to men’s trades. The
latter development began in British Columbia and is on the point of
veing extended by efforts of the Federal Parliament. Canada follows
the same general trend which has manifested itself in her sister
dominions, Australia and New Zealand, toward minimum wages for
all workers.

“ International Labor Office. International Labor Review, Geneva, April, 1924: “ Mininum
 wage legislation in Canada,” by J. W. Macmillan.
4 Letter dated Mar. 23, 1928,
5 Letter dated Mar, 16, 1928,