FORTY-HOUR WEEK

Evening Star, Issue 22365, 15 June 1936, Page 9

FORTY-HOUR WEEK

APPLICATION TO TEXTILE' INDUSTRY EMPLOYERS WITHDRAW FROM DISCUSSIONS Tress Association—By Telegraph—Copyright GENEVA, June 13. At the International Labour Conference the Textile Committee, by 15 votes to 10, adopted a resolution proposing a discussion on the suggested draft of a convention for a 40-hour week in the textile industry, with a view to adoption by a full conference in 193 C. After this Mr Ashurst, the British employers’ delegate, announced that the employers’ group, with the exception of the American group, would not further participate in the discussions. NEW ZEALAND DELEGATE’S ATTACK. LONDON, June 14. (Received June 15, at 2 p.m.) The Geneva correspondent of The Times ’ says Mr Mitchell, the New Zealand employers’ delegate to the International Labour Conference, attacked the 40-hour week proposals as threatening serious repercussions in New Zealand, which, owing to the vulnerability of her extensive export trade, was less able than any other country in the world to introduce the drastic experi’inent of mandatorily maintaining the rate of pay previously earned in a 44hour week. The passing of such a proposal into law would send “ God’s own country ” at top speed to the devil—an unenviable experience which he hoped she would be spared.