do well to follow. It would have been well if the “Federation of Employers,” who met on the following day at the same place, could have followed in the same path, at once so beneficial to capital and labour and to the general interests of the civilized world.

The course of the board that has been established in the South Staffordshire Iron Trade has not run so smoothly. Here we have a failure to record, but one that does not appear to have had a discouraging effect. It was formed upon the basis of the two organizations in the district, the South Staffordshire Ironmasters' Association and the local branch of the Ironworkers' Union. The board only represented these associations. There was no attempt to include those who were outsiders and not unionists. The programme for the formation of a new board declares that "the reconstruction of the old Conciliation Board on its former basis will never be attempted again, as it is quite powerless to bind those men who were not in the Ironworkers' Union, even though the master himself was bound.” At the discussion by the Iron Trade Association

most hopeful views were expressed as to the future of the new South Staffordshire Board, which has since then been established.

The constitution of this board is not the same as that of the North of England Board. It consists simply of twelve masters and twelve operatives, but every works joining the board shall, if possible, have a representative of the employers and a representative of the operatives. The board elects a president, not connected with the iron trade, whose duty it is to attend at meetings when questions are brought before the board to be settled, but to take no part in the discussion, beyond asking explanations sufficient to guide his judgment. He has not to give an award, like an arbitrator or an umpire, but, in the event of an equal vote, he would have to decide then and there by his casting vote. This would seem to be an inexpensive and practical way of settling questions rapidly; on the one hand, avoiding the delay and expense of protracted proceedings; on the other hand, providing against dissatisfaction on the part of workmen or masters, if a large question as to

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prices were decided by either a workman or master. It seems almost superfluous to say, that in the working of these boards every effort ought to be made by both sides to come to a decision, and not to let the fixing of large questions depend on the casting vote of the president. This has, I believe, been done in the Nottingham hosiery trade. Much must depend on the moral attitude and feeling of the actual members of the board. The Nottingham boards have shown that the secret of successful conciliation is the firm determination to agree, and not to differ. The South Staffordshire Board has begun well by accepting the result of an arbitration. Besides the president there is a chairman and vice-chairman, who are elected by the board from themselves, but whose functions are not clearly defined by the rules. Instead of a committee of inquiry, the rules, which are not very precise, say that "In case of any difference arising at any works, it is intended that it shall be settled by the works representatives; but in case of their failing, it is open to them to refer it to the chairman, vicechairman, and the two secretaries, who may call the board together if they see fit."

Various questions underlying the practical carrying out of these arbitration and conciliation boards. are suggested by what has occurred in the iron trade, but they will be more conveniently discussed in the following chapter on the coal trade.

The success of the board in the North of England iron trade, under the circumstances and trials I have described, is in truth sufficient to enable us to say the system is adapted to all industries in which the employments are not too varied, and which are grouped into large local aggregates, as distinguished from those trades which are scattered all over the kingdom. Of this kind of industry there could be no more typical experiment, no more remarkable success, than that of a great trade evolving a peaceful system like this, under the most trying vicissitudes that could well be imagined.

CHAPTER V.

THE COAL TRADE.

RBITRATION in the coal trade is an accomplished fact, as far as England and Wales are concerned. Everywhere

disputes are being settled by arbitration. As yet, however (with perhaps one exception), no permanent board, either for arbitration or conciliation, has been adopted. When a dispute arises, arbitrators are chosen on each side and an independent man is fixed upon as umpire. The investigation takes place in one form or another, and the masters and men abide by the result. In the Northumberland coal trade, although there is no permanent arbitration board, the masters and