doctrinaire or literary statement. They go ultimately clear to the root of private morals, and while professedly social, possibly react most strongly upon the individual. The men who are at the head of the labor movement in Australia, however, are the equals of their colleagues in the other political parties, possibly their superiors in conscientious devotion to certain ideals. As a rule their standard of private morality is high. A large percentage of them are total abstainers and the labor party rather inclines toward restrictive temperance legislation. Most of them favor women suffrage, and this is a plank in state platforms where the franchise has not already been granted. The labor movement is not anti-Christian in Australia. The working class of that country is really a middle class, and its party organization possesses, aside from its economic theories, middle class rather than fourth estate moral standards and ideals. Indeed the political labor movement of Australasia might be denominated the revolt of a socialistic bourgeoisie. CONCLUSION. The statistical bases for a thorough-going study of labor conditions in the Commonwealth do not yet exist, though satisfactory data may be obtained from individual States. The effects of recent labor legislation have not had time to manifest themselves, nor can they at present be distinguished from other effects due to federation and outside causes. Public opinion has not yet matured and crystallized in regard to the chief features of the labor propaganda; in fact people are still only half aware what the underlying theory of that movement is or whither it leads. Employers view with misgiving the effects of laws lately enacted or in prospect. The system of party politics is in a state of transition, both as to platforms and alignment and as to tactical organization. The impermanency of present conditions impresses itself everywhere upon the visitor. Predictions as to political developments or legislation made by those most competent to speak upon such subjects are falsified almost before they are uttered. Under such circumstances it would certainly be presumptuous for a stranger in Australia to draw final conclusions as to the meaning and the probable results of present economic tendencies in that country. What has been attempted is to give some impressions and statistics with regard to labor conditions with as much history of the part of the labor movement that differentiates Australia from other AngloSaxon countries as is necessary in order to see the forces behind the experimental legislation recently enacted or now proposed. The ultimate outcome of the labor movement-as far as the attainment of its practical ideals is concerned-may depend upon the attitude of the farmers. The latter have many old grievances against the employing class. A considerable percentage of the small settlers in the pastoral States, like New South Wales, have at some period of their lives been shearers or station workmen, and members of trades unions. The labor party appeals to the farmers by its positive programme. It is easier to elicit interest among the politically apathetic rural classes by promising to do something definite than by promising indefinite generalities or merely insisting upon the sanctity of the status quo. Mr. Watson, the labor Federal premier, represented a country district. The president of the largest farmers' society in Australia, with more than 7,000 active members, said to the writer: "The labor party is the true democratic party of this country, and gives us all our true democratic legislation. But the trade-union leaders must broaden the labor platform and take in their country friends. The one point on which we now differ is on their programme of land nationalization." It is doubtful whether the two interests will ever agree upon this last point, and the general testimony of farmers and those familiar with the farmers was that as a class they oppose the labor party. This is especially true in Victoria, where farmers' leagues have been organized and an active campaign is being conducted antagonistic to socialism and labor doctrines. Until the influence of the farmer has had time to be felt in Australia we shall know very little as to the relative forces at work for and against socialistic legislation. The prediction one would naturally venture is that the result will be practical compromises, upon the whole satisfactory to a majority of the workingmen, which will throw over many of the theoretical ideals and principles of the socialist political economy. The labor movement represents a centering inward of Australian life. It has nothing to do with wider world interests. It is intensely local, and perhaps more self-confident in its policies than if Australia were not so remote from other civilization centers. There is no chance to compare home conditions with corresponding social conditions elsewhere. And, what is strange in a race so akin to our own and placed exteriorly in such similar circumstances, the national ideal of the Australians is almost the converse of ours. A speaker in the Westralian parliament said: "We have to choose between two idealsbetween the ideal of rapid progress, large population, and, possibly, a very considerable residuum of poverty, and the ideal of a slower rate of progress, almost stationary population, and happily very little poverty." By protection and exclusion and formal regulation the labor party would raise the standard of life of the working people. Americans have sought the same end by reverse methods, by inviting the world into national partnership, and by an almost anarchic struggle of the fittest to survive. Our system may breed a more aggressive, energetic, and masterful race, but at the expense of more suffering and injustice to the weak. There is danger in both systems. Extreme individualism may produce lawlessness, and lawlessness strain to the severing limit the bonds of society. Extreme socialism may make of a nation a social hypochondriac and injure the constitution of a country by too much doctoring. An individual acknowledgment of the many hospitalities and helpful courtesies extended to the writer during his investigations in Australia would add materially to the length of this report. Without exception every facility was placed at his disposal, both by public authorities and by private parties, for obtaining information upon the matters which were the object of his visit. An American feels very much at home in the Commonwealth. He is apt to view its ultimate future almost as enthusiastically as a native citizen. And he is certain to regard with the most cordial sympathy and satisfaction the growing power and prosperity of this kindred Federation of the South Pacific. AGREEEMENTS BETWEEN EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES. [It is the purpose of this Bureau to publish from time to time important agreements made between large bodies of employers and employees with regard to wages, hours of labor, etc. The Bureau will be pleased to receive copies of such agreements whenever made.] JOINT INTERSTATE AGREEMENT OF OPERATORS AND MINERS. It is hereby agreed between the representatives of the Southwestern Interstate Coal Operators' Association and the representatives of Districts 14, 21, and 25 of the United Mine Workers of America, that the existing interstate, district, and Texas agreements be continued without any change or addition whatever, except as follows: Day wage, yardage, dead and deficient work to be reduced throughout 5.55 per cent, except the day-wage scale in Texas mines, which shall be reduced one-half the above amount. Interstate and district scales to be signed simultaneously at Pittsburg and to expire March 31, 1906. (Provided that in no case will there be any reduction from the rate of wages now paid to carpenters of more than 5.55 per cent.) All other outside day labor not enumerated................ $1.91 Provided that any class of outside day labor now receiving $2.02 or more per day shall be reduced 5.55 per cent. This provision only applies to outside day labor not otherwise enumerated. SCALE FOR ENGINEERS. Engineers, first class, 500 tons and over, per month $74.62 68.95 61.40 Tail rope and slope engineers shall be reduced 5.55 per cent below present wages. The minimum rate for tail rope and slope engineers shall be $2.25 per day, or $58.56 per month; provided, further, that the maximum rate for tail rope and slope engineers shall be $2.55 per day, or $66.12 per month. Twenty-six days to constitute a month's work and nine hours to constitute a day's work. All overtime in excess of nine hours to be paid for at a proportionate rate per hour. The tonnage shall be determined by the average for the month of November, 1902, and based upon mine-run coal; but in no case shall any reduction from the present wages be made. This scale of wages applies only to mines in operation at least one year, and in all new mines the wages of the engineers shall be advanced with the increased tonnage until the maximum rate is reached; provided, that in no case shall engineers employed at new mines receive less than $2.25 per day; also that in no case shall engineers, firemen, or pumpers be interfered with or asked to cease work by any local committee or local union official during the life of this contract. The mining prices inside and outside day-wage scale (except engineers) provided for in this contract is based upon an eight-hour work day. RULES AND REGULATIONS. EIGHT-HOUR DAY. All classes of day labor are to work full eight hours, and the going to and coming from the respective working places is to be done on the day hands' own time. All company men shall perform whatever day labor the foreman may direct. An eight-hour day means eight hours' work in the mines at the usual working places, exclusive of noon time-which shall be one-half hour-for all classes of inside day labor. This shall be exclusive of the time required in reaching such working places in the morning and departing from the same at night. Drivers shall take their mules to and from the stables, and the time required in so doing shall not include any part of the day's labor; their time beginning when they reach the change at which they receive empty cars-that is, the parting drivers at the shaft bottom and the inside drivers at the parting and ending at the same places; but in no case shall a driver's time be docked while he is waiting for such cars at the points named. The inside drivers, at their option, may either walk to and from their parting, or take with them, without compensation, either loaded or empty cars to enable them to ride. This provision, however, shall not prevent the inside drivers from bringing to and taking from the bottom regular trips, if so directed by the operator, provided such work is done within the eight hours. When the stables are located outside the mine the companies agree to deliver the mules at the bottom of the shaft in the morning and relieve the drivers of the mules at the bottom of the shaft at night. When the men go into the mine in the morning they shall be entitled to two hours' pay whether or not the mine works full two hours; but |