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The Advertiser.
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 1894.
LABOR CONCILIATION AND
REGISFTRATION.
A few weeks ago, in describing the pro-<*>
gress made by the movement towards
conciliation in industrial disputes, we
referred to the interest aroused in the
question in Brisbane by the addresses of
Sir. K. T. Scatnmell, of the Exeter
Chamber of Commerce. In the northern
capital Mr. Scammell found that opinion
was greatly divided as to the beet
methods to be adopted for promoting
industrial peace. He took the op
portunity of laying before the Queens
land public a carefully thought-ont scheme
founded on the principle of compulsory
reference to an investigating or concilia
tion board, with provision for voluntary
arbitration; and the result was the
appointment of a committee of ciriaens
to promote legislation on these lines. In
Sydney and Melbourne Mr. Soammell has
been doing similarly valuable work.
After yean of negotiation the Melbourne
Chamber of Commerce has abandoned its
attempt to establish a system of com
pulsory reference of disputes' to a con
ciliation tribunal on the application of
either aid*, the Employers' Union
baring declined to accept the re
solution of the recent conference
in favor of that plan. An influential
committee of citizens has, however, been
formed at the instanoe of Mr. R*?Tnm«n
and Mr. Cowderoy, with a view of advo
cating legislative action in the direction
pointed oat. Mr. boammell is now in
this city, and last night he delivered an
excellent lecture at the Albert Hall under
the auapioss of the local Chamber of
Commerce, dealing nut only with labor
conciliation, but with the unemployed
problem and other kindred topics. Our
visitor speaks with a considerable weight j
vt authority upon these matters. As
secretary and member of the Exeter
Chamber he has had muoh experience
as a mediator in industrial disputes,
and thoroughly understands thedimcultiu
to be overcome in averting strikes and
lock-outs, lie brought tne question of
conciliation before the Associated
Chambers of Commerce in London, and
was ersnunert as a witness by the
Imperial Labor Commission in 1893.
His interest in the subject is keen, and
during his visit to these colonies he has
been especially conoemed in gathering
information and in endeavoring to advance
the cause of industrial conciliation as a
means of preventing the periodical con
tiict* between employers and employed.
In the other colonies, Mr. Scammall
states, he arrived at the con
clusion that no measure providing
for compulsory arbitration would
be generally accepted. He abstains
from directly disowning the provisions
of Mr. Kingston's Bill now before the
Assembly, in which the element of com
pulsory arbitration is introduced as a
supplement to voluntary registration and
submission in the tint instance. Whether
employers and employed will consent to
come undar the compulsory jurisdiction
so provided is exceedingly doubtful; the
prospects are certainly far from bright.
Probably the most valuable part of Mr.
Kingston's Bill is that which contemplates
the registration of legaUy-enforoeable
"industrial agreements," under which
associations of employers and employed
would be at liberty to enter into
almost any conceivable arrangement for
the refereuon of disputes to tribunals
of their own constitution, either for con
ciliation or arbitration purposes. How
ever that may be, while Mr. Scammell
does not think compulsory arbitration
practicable, he is deeply impressed with
the necessity of State intervention of
some kind. He finds among employers
and employed themselves an increasing
desire to bring their differences to an
amicable setUwnent. More than that,
since the evil consequence of strikes ex
tend beyond those immediately concerned
and injuriously affect the interests of the
whole community, public opinion is begin
ning to insist that the State shall take some
action. If, as Mrs. Bessnt says, society
does not solve the labor problem, what
we have to fear is that the labor problem
will sooner or later solve society. The
warfare between classes cannot persis
tently go on, and gain constantly in bitter
ness, without producing gradually a dis
integrating effect that in the end may
prove disastrous. Mr. Scammell pleads
strongly for conciliation as the basis of
any workable machinery for the adjust
ment of industrial differences; but he
utters a warning against misplaced faith
iv conciliation " pure and simple." That,
as be says, has been tried, and it has
failed. The London Chamber of Com
merce experimented in this direc
tion, and it£ experiences were
not encouraging. For the same
reason Mr. Baker's Bill of 1892, as we
said at the time, appears to be in
adequate. Mr. Scammell puts forward a
scheme, of which the Inading principle is
compulsory reference with a view to
conciliation and voluntary arbitration.
The general court of conciliation he
suggests would be formed on a repre
sentative basis, with a judge of the
j Supreme Court as president. It would
! elect a board of arbitration, to be pre
sided over by an independent gentleman
of legal standing to be selected by the
board. The court would also elect a
committee of enquiry to assist the
president ia determining whether any
trade dispute is of sufficient im
portance to warrant interference.
In the case of a dispute considered
to be of such importance the first pro
cedure would bo an enquiry with or
without the consent of one or both parties.
If the board of enquiry should fail to
settle the difference by bringing the
parties together, it may urge arbitration ;
and should arbitration be refuted, a full
report would be published. In that
event the report would have the weight
attaching to the conclusion, after careful
investigation, of an independent public
body. But, at the consent of the parties,
the dispute may be referred to arbitration
either without or after preliminary en
quiry, and if so referred the parties would
agree to be bound by the award.
This is a fair scheme, which without
running to the length of putting absolute
compulsion on either party to a dispute
would at least require a public investi
gation and a public report, whether ono
side or both objected to the investigation.
In practice it would no doubt often be
found that the parties would be brought
together, and opportune mediation would
result in an amicable settlement. Optional
arbitration would still remain as ? possible
solvent of the difficulty where conciliation
failed to effect a mutual agreement. Mr.
Scammell also spoke at some length, and
very suggestively, on the subject of labor
registration. The idea of establish
ing a national labor bureau is not
new. In the other colonies the ex
periment has been tried on varying
lines with different degrees of success.
The great advantage to be gained is that
of bringing unemployed labor into
" touch' with the employers able to
employ it. But this etc only be done
by means of a thorough general system
of registration, with a central exchange
or clearing house in vital connection with
ail the local centres. Mr. Scammell
sketched a plan of registration which
looks as though it might be adopted with
marked benefit both to employers of
labor and the workless. One of its
incidental merits ia that of sifting
the genuine unemployed from tne
idle tramp and loafer, and enabling
a better check to be applied against
the diversion of charity to the undeserving.
Mr. ScammeU ia to be rh?nkfwi for an
interesting and practical address, which
deserve* careful study at the hands of all
who are sincerely anxious for * satisfac
tory solution of the difficult but urgent
questions diaaimwid by him in the light
of wide and valuable experience and
observation. !
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