The Dominion. TUESDAY, JULY 29, 1919. LABOUR'S GREAT OPPORTUNITY

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 259, 29 July 1919, Page 4

The Dominion. TUESDAY, JULY 29, 1919. LABOUR'S GREAT OPPORTUNITY

The agenda to be set before the International Labour Conference which is to meet at Washington in October may look, at a direct view, rather unambitious. Yet if it serves its intended purpose this assemblage will stand out in human history as one of the boldest and grandest attempts ever made by the strong to help the weak. The essential object of the conference will be to promote world-wide welfare and conditions making for secure peace.' It will be concerned much less. with stimulating industrial and social progress in countries which already are keenly aware of a democratic impetus, and are well able to help themselves, than with assisting the more difficult .progress of countries which are still at a primitive stage of industrial and social development. .Fulfilling its objects the Conference will be a first -practical step_ towards establishing and consolidating international amity by elevating the industrial ana economic standards, of backward nations, and so enabling them to fraternise with their compeers on even terms. Prospects of attaining such a condition of affairs may seem extremely remote, but even those who are least inclined to adopt_ a hopeful outlook in the matter will be bound to admit that nothing in the world is better worth striving to attain. Owing no doubt to the fact that it was a brief summary, a recent New York cablegram dealing with the Conference about to bo held at Washington. did not quite accurately indicate the position. ' The agenda for this year's which is to be followed by others at intervals of a year, was not drawn up in America, but will be found in the Labour Convention embodied in the Treaty of_ Versailles. . It includes the principle of a eight-hour day, the question of unemployment, and the employment of women and children, particularly in dangerous trades. Furthermore the Convention sets out, amongst others, the following "methods and principles for regulating labour conditions, which all industrial communities should endeavour to apply, so far as their special circumstances permit":—

That labour should not he regarded merely as a commodity, or articlo of commorce; the right of association for all lawful purposes, for employer as well as for employed; tho payment to tho employed of a wage implying a reasonable standard of life, as understood in their time and country; the adoption of an eight-hour day or a 48-hour week, where this has not already'been attained; tho adoption of a weekly rest of at least 24 'hours, including Sunday, where practicable; the abolition of child labour and the limitation of the labour of tho young so p.s to permit the continuance of their education and their proper physical" development; the principle of equal pay'for men and women for equal work; any legal standard for conditions of labour to have regard, in each country, to the equitable economic treatment of all workers resident therein; nnd tho provision by each Stf.te of a system of inspection for tho protection of the employed, in which women should take part.

It is to be said of the machinery under whifli conventions <ire to be framed on' the widest possible basis lor development on the lines here indicated, as it is to be said of the whole League Covenant, that it is largely permissive* in character. Critics may bo as ready in one case as in the other to fasten upon this feature as a fatal, defect, but it may be argued with as much forcc in regard to the international regulation of labour conditions as in regard to the total scope of tho League of Nations that tho advantages of combined action are so {peat that thoso to whom they arc offered would be mad to neglect or ignore them.

It would bo foolish,. of course, to assume that the International Labour Conference will be able at once, or' in the course of a few years, to materially approach the ideal of world-wide industrial and economic standards levelled up to the highest. Yet it is manifest that in the Labour . Convention the people of the world arc offered a hopeful though not instant or easy means of working out the conditions of secure peace and international concord. It is equally evident that deadly dangers are involved in neglecting whatever opportunities are open in this-direc-tion. No progress in advanced democracies will Lay secure foundations of peace while in other partsof tho world teeming millions of human beings arc labouring in the most miserable conditions, but producing not raw materials only but tome manufactured goods at infinitely lower prices than aro possible where industry and_ social life are regulated by an enlightened regard for the principles of humanity. Long before tho dawn of history economic contrasts made for war, and such economic contrasts as exist in tho world to-day make in themselves for a war, not of nations, but of continents. If stimulus to action is to be found in a glorious ideal, and driving force in the desire to avert a world danger, then the International' Labour Conference will pioneer a mighty march of human progress. The difficulties to be overcome aro enormous, and even in the most distant view inevitable limitations are imposed on action directed to bringing labour conditions in Asiatic and other countries, and the social conditions they determine, as nearly as possible into line with those of countries more advanced.' Nevertheless, the possibilities of 'at least improving on existing conditions should serve to encourage or sustain effort in that direction. The initial test,

upon which everything else will depend, must apply obviously to those democracies which call themselves advanced. If world democracy is to bo organised on sound lines, there must first be soundly organised national democracy. The supremely important principle is enunciated in the Labour L'onven-' tion of the Treaty of Versailles that measures, for the regulation of labour conditions in a,given country must have regard to "the equitable economic treatment of all workers, resident therein." Where it remains possible for sections of organised labour to ruthlessly violate this principle by "direct action" and criminal follies of a like nature, no progress will be made in building up national welfare, much less in forwarding the greater task that is set before the International Labour Conference. The whole future of individual, nations and of all nations depends upon their adoption of a broader and iuster outlook. Placed as it is to inspire such an outlook, the Conference may yet exert an enormous influence for good on human progress.