Il6	THE  BRITISH  APPROACH  TO  POLITICS
workers to find employment, it was to assist production. But as
the numbers of people unable to find work increased, the Ministry
became ever -more occupied in the social duty of providing for
them.
Industrial Relations. The Factory Acts, administered by the
Home Office, prescribe fpamimnn hours and minimum require-
ments for safely and health. Apart from these Acts, and the
regulations of the Mines Department, wages, hours, and conditions
are left to employers and employed to settle for themselves,
usually by "collective bargaining", i.e., agreements between
employers' associations and Trade Unions, to cover all the
workers in the industry, or, at least, in a particular district. But
if a deadlock is reached, and a strike or lock-out seems likely,
a representative of the Ministry of Labour will intervene and try
to bring about an agreement. Frequently the parties to the
dispute will ask the Minister to help, or the collective agreement
may provide that when any dispute cannot be settled by
discussion, it should be referred to him. When a claim is made
for an increase or decrease in wages, both sides try to fortify
their case with statistics of the cost of living, or reports of
conditions in similar industries abroad. These facts, along with
many others, they can obtain from the Ministry of Labour
Gazette. The years since the War have seen the growth of many
new industries, particularly in the South of England. Trade
Unionism has not become so strong there as in the older
industrial areas; but since the new industries have so far been
comparatively prosperous, the importance of this fact has not
yet been made plain. It may be that in the future rising prices
will provoke many demands for wage increases, and much work
Will be provided-both for Trade Unions and the Ministry.
In some industries where wages are low, and Trade Unionism
organisation often weak, Trade Boards are set up. An Act of
1909 created these boards for four industries, and, since the
passing fcf a further Act in 1918, the Minister of Labour has
power to make Orders for Trade Boards in other industries.