LEAGUE OF NATIONS

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 33, 8 February 1930, Page 17

LEAGUE OF NATIONS

THE LABOUR CONFERENCE

N.Z. REPRESENTATION

A: meeting of the Dominion League of Nations Union executive was held this week,' th'e> presidGnt (Key. J>r. J. Gibb) presiding. "■ ' ,■■ ■-■ ■ The chairman said that he-and Mr, W. Nash, M.P., had appeared" before the Education Committee to urge that more space be given in school curricula to -instruction about the*"League and international peace,; Teaching at present had, no, relation" to the' importance' of the; Subject. The deputation hadvmetvwith a^good'tfisceptioii, and though no;.! definite promise was made, they, had<reasoii to-believe';that their suggestions • Would reach- Parliament in- the form of a recommendation. It was resolved to seek an with the Minister of Education foij the purpose of requesting him to pur-' chase a supply of suitable League of Nations literature for the use of school teachers,; a suggestion already made by. the Director of Education (Mr. T. B. Strong). It was further...resolved that fro.m a supply to. -be ■ obtained of the British. Union y pamphleti '' Teachers and World Peace/", evety member of 'Parliament be pirefsented' with * copy. :.'.. The president moved: ■ "That this' council, which has on more than one occasion approached the authorities, urging that New Zealand should be represented at the annual Labour, Conference of the League of • Nations, heartily congratulates the Government on their decision to send to Geneva in May next a delegation' representing the Government, Labour, and employers* This decision will be hailed with thank« fulness by all who, with General Smuts, see in the League the one hope of world peace." In further discussion, a- minute was adopted regarding the allegation that "because New Zealand workers are paid better w.igos and enjoy bettor conditions than most of the nations represented at the conference this country needs no representation there." The minute was in these terms: "To the suggestion that New Zealand has nothing to learn from the International x Labour Conference." it might bo enough to reply, that: in that case Zea» land may have something .to teach it. In any case, the unenviable notoriety of this, Dominion being classed with Ethiopia and the Dominican Bepublia aa the only ; State members of the League of Nations without representation at the Labour . Conference will cease and determine. -The council further emphasises the fact, ,all; but universally recognised, that the International Labour Organisation is. as essential to the maintenance and establishment of world peace as the more definj itely political agencies of the League.'^