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124 METHODS OF SOCIAL REFORM.
Some men of great experience think that Boards of Arbitration
and Conciliation will solve the di5culty; and there is
no doubt that such boards have prevented strikes and disagreements.
Anyone will admit that conciliation is better
than open strife; but it does not follow that what brings peace
affords a sound and thorough settlement. I have never been
ablo to persuade myself that arbitration by an elected board
or Bingle individual is a theoretically sound measure. It appears
to mo to countenance the erroneous idea, so generally
prevailing, that priccs and wages can be and ought to Le the
subject of regulation. It tends to remove all free competition,
to substitute ono single arbitrary power for the tmo rival
powers which now strivo in every trade. The Act of Parliament
under which such councils are established certainly
provide3 that there shall be no power to fix a uniform rate of
prices or wages, so that the Legislature has formally, at least,
maintained the principles of free labour.
But unless the councils arbitrate in the matter of wages
and prices, they do not touch the chief point in dispute; and
if they do not fix rates which will practically be respected and
onforced by public opinion upon'tho whole trade, where is the
use of their arbitration I' The tendency of all such arrangementa
would surely bo to destroy the freedom of individual
action; and any such tendency is directly contrary to the
undoubted truths of economical science, which we must unanchingly
uphold at the peril of unmeasured evils. I am
perfectly willing to allow that there are many details of trade
relating to the hours and conditions of labour, the safety,
comfort, and welfare of the men, which are rightly the subject
of regulation ; and in respect to such matters I wish to see
the vigilance and energy of the anions and councils increased
rather than diminished, provided that they will learn to disoriminate
between what they am, and what they cannot,
properly regulate. Bat I fear that a long time must pas8
before the fallacies of ,protection will be thoroughly eradicated
from the minds of men. Many a 'sad experiment must be
II.