FOR AND AGAINST.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 235, 4 October 1935, Page 14

FOR AND AGAINST.

A FORTY-HOUR WEEK.

LABOUR AND EMPLOYERS. GENEVA DELEGATES DIFFER. (By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLING TON, Thursday. New Zealand's delegates to the International Labour Conference at Geneva last July differed on one of the main questions submitted, namely, the principle of a 40-liour week. Mr. F. Corn well, Labour representative, supported it. Mr. T. O. Bishop, representing New Zealand employers, however, spoke against it, and the report submitted to the Minister of Labour, which was tabled in the House of Representatives to-day, included lull details of his observations. New Zealand, lie contended, having the biggest per capita external trade of any country in the world, was least able to undertake experiments which may have the ellcct of increasing the cost of production. When the rest, of tlio countries of the world were prepared to adopt measures of reform which mean increased, leisure, New Zealand would be prepared to play its part. lie did not believe a shorter working week would have any permanently beneficial effect on the unemployment situation owing to the development of mechanisation in industry, therefore he announced that if a convention favouring a 40-hour week were adopted ho would have to return to his own country to oppose it. As indicated in the cabled reports, the conference by 131 votes to 33 adopted a resolution favouring the principle of a 40-hour week, with the maintenance of workers' standard of living.

Mr. Bishop points out that there is no obligation on any Government to ratify this convention, and the position is entirely unsatisfactory unless all of the principal industrial countries of the world agree simultaneously to the principle. Otherwise they will be seriously handicapped in competition in the world's markets.

The Labour delegate, Mr. Cornwell, who supported the resolution, reports that the vote was a recommendation to Governments to support the principle of a 40-liour week. While this principle was affirmed by 181 votes' to 33, the division which carried the principle of maintaining workers' standard of living was adopted by 75 votes to 27.

Mr. Corn well strongly urges regular representation of the Dominion at these annual conferences, the delegates to be assisted by an expert adviser. The International Labour Oflice, he adds, is an organisation in the making, which in the course of a very few years will exercise a very powerful influence on the international industrial conditions of the whole world, and it is the duty of every section of the English-speaking races to be fully represented so that they Inay take full responsibility in guiding the nations along a path which will lead to greater prosperity by the shortest route.