LABOUR WORLD.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17291, 1 November 1921, Page 7

LABOUR WORLD.

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE. AGRICULTURAL WORKERS' HOURS. (By Cable—PreW AwocUtioa—Copyright.) (AustroHaa and N.Zk Gable Association,) LONDO.N, October 29. The Genera correspondent of the ''Observer l ' reports that supporters of the French objection to the agricultural eir-.ht-bour day included tho Australian delegates to the International Conference, and also the employers' and Governments' delegates from Great Britain, Canada, and South Africa. The conference, nfter an exciting debate, defeated by 90 votes to 17, France's attempt to exclude agricultural labour from the scope of the Washington unemployment, resolution. The Italian and British delegates intimated that the movement aimed ?t securing a re-discussion of the agricultural labourers' hours of work. Bishop Frodshnm will be the preacher at a special service m the English Church at Geneva in. connexion with the Labour Conference. [The Frenoh delegates to tho International Labour Conference demand that the agricultural question can be examined only from the national viewpoint, not international. France declines' to accept the conference's decisions on the subject. The conference, by 04 votes to 39, passed a resolution in favour of an. eight-hour day for agricultural labourers, but being below the required two-thirds majority, the item had' to be withdrawn from the agenda.] (Received. October 31st, B'.lo p.m.) GENEVA, Octobor 29. Bishop Frodsham, preaching in the iinelifih Church, said during the war the great industrial nations had learned the lessons of unity, co-operation, and self-sacrifice. Why should the Powers whioh triumphed over the com- ! petition of war be found incapable of meeting the competition of peace. The Conference's ideal was the maintenance of the synthesised economic interests of the world, of the nations, and of all classes. BRITISH MINERS' WAGES. THE NOVEMBER AWARD. (Received Octobejr 31st. 9 p.m.) LONDON. October 31. The South Wales miners have again been hit by the official wages award under the strike settlement agreement. Their November wages have been fixed at only 20 per cent, above those for July, 1914, while the cost of living is afficially estimaited at 110 per cent, above that of tho same period. TRADE UNIONS IN AUSTRALIA. MELBOURNE, Ootober 31. The Bureau of Statistics reports that the trade unions in the Commonwealth number 796, with ai membership of 684,450. i BASIC WAGE IN NEW SOUTH WALES. —# REDUCTIONS GRANTED BY COURT (By CtblapPreH A«aoci»tion—Copyright.) (AustrtlUn nd N.Z. Uoi« Awomttiotli) (Received Ootober 81st, 10.25 p.m.) SYDNEY, October 31. In the Arbitration Court, Mr Justice Rolin ruled that the new declaration by the Board of Trade reducing the living wages by 3a a week took the place of the old living wage declaration. This meant that applications by employers for reductions in wages , might be granted. Accordingly, applications by textile manufacturers and 'Messrs Hosking, Ltd., iron and steel manufacturers, for reductions in wages of 3s a week were granted. „