I.L.O. Conference Rejects Australian Amendment

Greymouth Evening Star, 12 July 1947, Page 5

I.L.O. Conference Rejects Australian Amendment

GENEVA, July 11.

After a heated debate, an Australian amendment to the draft convention on social policy in colonial territories, presented to the International Labour Conference, failed because of the lack of a voting quorum. Mr E. J. Ward (Australia) said that his Government regarded the amendment as fundamental.

It provided that no worker should be prejudiced or discriminated against in his employment because he was a member, agent, or official of a trade union.

Opposing delegates claimed that the amendment would by-pass the convention on freedom of association, which was down for later discussion. The British and American Government delegates admitted that the amendment involved the right to organise, which everyone favoured, but if it were adopted it would make the convention as a whole unacceptable to some governments. Fifty-four delegates voted for the amendment and 22 against, but the voting quorum is 83. The amendment was therefore rejected. The employers’ delegates voted solidly against the amendment. The government delegates of Britain, the United States, and Denmark also voted against it. Most of the delegates from the South American countries did,not vote.