Industrial Arbitration and the Single Purpose League

Abstract

The early history of compulsory arbitration in Australia is one marked by employer hostility. Activities between 1890 and 1915 to prevent legislation and to constrain the role of arbitration courts proved futile. This futility, together with other factors, reduced employer associations’ efforts in countering compulsory arbitration. In 1922 the Single Purpose League (SPL) emerged to fill the void. Its architects were Hugh Victor McKay, owner of the Sunshine Harvester Company, and Guillaume Daniel Delprat, long-time Managing Director of BHP. Both men had unhappy dealings with industrial tribunals and espoused a voluntaristic approach to labour relations. They proved untiring apostles in the League’s cause. This was particularly so of Delprat, who used his oratorical skills; his BHP connections; his access to business, political and community leaders; and his frequent travels to advance the SPL cause. The ‘single purpose’ was initially the abolition of compulsory arbitration tribunals, but expanded to include any form of adjudication including wages boards. Though successful in having a Bill introduced into the South Australian Parliament to abolish arbitration, the inclusion of wages boards alienated would-be support. The League was not able to convince employer associations to join its cause. Though a number of these supported the League’s aims, they had concerns with the SPL’s inability to propose a viable alternative to the existing industrial arrangements. Unable to garner support, the League petered out in 1924.