WORKING OF WAGES BOARDS IN VICTORIA.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8467, 18 June 1907, Page 5

WORKING OF WAGES BOARDS IN VICTORIA.

SOME OF THE RESULTS. A lengthy paper on the working of Wages Boards in Victoria was read at the 1905 conference of the Australian Employees' Federation, by Mr N. N. Pratt. In view of yester- ; day's cable message and the proposal , made by the .Minister for Labour as • to the adoption of such a system in New Zealand, a few of Mr Pratt's 1 main points will be read with in- , terest. The Wages Boards, says Mr Pratt, have to fix the minimum 4 wage for . the trade they represent, both for males and females, to fix the wages for improvers and apprentices, to fix the rate for overtime, the proportionate number of apprentices to journey - - men, the number of hours per week to be worked, and lo prepare a piecework price list. The board consists of either three or five members appointed by the employers and an equal number by the employees. These meet and agree upon a chairman. They are paid per sitting, 10s for chairman, and 5s for delegates. ' When they have come to an agreement it is sent on to the Minister, who, if he agrees with it, gazettes it, when it is binding on all the trade in towns and boroughs, and to within a radius of ten miles of these. A court of appeal against the .agreement is provided. The writer goes on to say that, asthe matters coining before the board are very largely treated as party matters, the chairman has to give a large number of casting votes, and, consequently, to settle himself such questions as what the minimum wage shaU be and other important matters. "This makes the chairman's position one of the greatest importance, and he becomes either the strong or the weak part of the whole scheme." The determinations of the boards have one after the other been brought into 'operation and become law. Their general effect was un.loubtedly to raise the average rate of wages and shorten the hours. The reasoh for the passing of the Act was to prevent sweating, and it was directewthat this should be done by ascertaining the wage earned by the average worker in the trade, and' making that the minimum. But the board have almost entirely disregarded these instructions, and have I fixed a minimum far higher than this average wage. The consequences have been far-reaching, and in many trades the minimum has the tendency to become the maximum. Summing up the paper, Mr Pratt asks if the boards have' accomplished the purpose for which they were formed? His conclusions (summarised) are as follows: (1) Have they put down sweating? —ln the clothing trade, yes, and largely in trades where women are employed.. But in many other trades they have increased it, for the old and slow men have been driven to work at home for very low rates; ard while the female out-workers have been nearly all swept away, the male out-workers in some trades have been largely increased. (2) Have they protected those who needed protection?—ln the case of females they have to a large exteht. In the case of old, infirm and slow, they have failed to protect. (3) Have they increased employment?— No. Whatever increase of employment has taken place has been through • the natural expansion of trade. < (4) Have they raised wages?— I think we must say" yes as far as the average per man is concerned. The general improvement in trade is answerable for a deal of the rise. The true test will be when bad times come, then wages must again go down. Mr Pratt goes on to say—"l do not believe that any form of legislation can rigidly fix the rate of wages to be paid to all classes of workmen without doing more harm than good," but he points out where he thinks them preferable to an Arbitration Court. (1) They are more mobile, having simpler constitution and methods. The board is easily convened, its sittings and decisions are free from red tape, it attends only to the business of its own trade, directly its business is over its sittings cease, and all expense stops. (2) The members of the boards are all experts in their trade. All intricate questions and technicalities are easily understood, mistakes and delays are avoided, and fresh avenues of trade are quickly provided for. (3) The powers of the boards are limited and defined. They deal only with rates and wages, hours to be worked, overtime, and improvers. (4) Their decisions are more satisfactory. In a large number of instances they are unanimous, and are accepted by the whole trade without demur. j' (5) They cannot order preference to unionists. (6) An appeal from their decision is provided.