Part Ii. Government Labour Policy

XII War-time Labour Regulation and Its Effects 133

Co-operation between Employers and Unions at Beginning of War—The Unsettling Effect of Shortage of Labour—The “Treasury” Agreements of March, 1915—The Limitation of Employers’ Profits—Failure of Compulsory Arbitration—Effect of Relieving Employers of Responsibility for Labour Management—Increases of Wages and Prices—Relation of Wages to Cost of Living.

XIII Normal Government Labour Policy 142

Government Departments Concerned—Conciliation and Arbitration—Whitley Councils—Industry’s Own Conciliation Machinery—State Conciliation Machinery—Statutory Minimum Wages—Employment Exchanges—The Work of the Ministry of Labour.

XIV Government Labour Policy for the Coal Industry 155

Pre-war Conditions—The South Wales Strike of 1915—Government War-time Control—The Sankey Commission—The Mining Industry Act, 1920—The Strike of October 1920—The Strike of April 1921—The Failure of Part II of the Act of 1920—Royalties—Summary of Government Policy.

XV Government Labour Policy for Railways 164

Pre-war Conditions—Government War-time Control—The Wage Agreement of March 1919—The Railway Strike of September 1919—The Wage Agreement of March 1920—The Railways Act, 1921—The Railway Conciliation Machinery of 1921—Sectional Railway Councils—Railway Councils.

XVI Government Labour Policy for Agriculture 171

Government War-time Control—Government’s New Policy in 1921—The Establishment of Joint Conciliation Committees in England and Wales—The Work of the Conciliation Committees—Agriculture and Unemployment Insurance.

XVII Government Policy for Unemployment 175

1. State Unemployment Insurance.—The Present Scheme of 1920—Emergency Provisions—Temporary Act of March 1921—Temporary Act of July 1921—Temporary Provision for Dependents’ Act of November 1921—Temporary Act of April 1922—The Efficiency of the State Scheme 176

2. Construction Of Works of Public Utility.—Unemployment Grants Committee—The Scheme of 1920—The Extended Scheme of 1921 187

3. Expedited Road Schemes.—The 1920-21 Programme—The 1921-22 Programme—The Special Metropolitan Schemes—The Provincial Schemes—Conditions Attaching to Grants 191

4. Poor Law Relief.—Principles Governing Administration of Relief—Ascertainment of Applicant’s Income—Assistance to Guardians to Carry out Works—Funding of Cost of Relief—Help to Poorer Metropolitan Unions—Assistance to Guardians to Raise Loans 195

XVIII Government Policy for Unemployment 199

5. Guarantee of Loans.—The Trade Facilities Act, 1921—Policy of Advisory Committee—Difficulties of the Committee—Guarantees already Given 199

6. The Export Credits Scheme.—Specific Guarantees or Credits—General Guarantees or Credits 204

7. Other Miscellaneous Schemes.—Summary of National Expenditure 207