The Grey River Argus FRIDAY, May 12, 1944. I.L.O. CONFERENCE.

Grey River Argus, 12 May 1944, Page 4

The Grey River Argus FRIDAY, May 12, 1944. I.L.O. CONFERENCE.

Not perhaps on account of such actual agreements as are reached, hut rather of the prospects it is opening up, the twenty-sixth conference of the International Labour Organisation now proceeding at Philadelphia is probably the most important in its history, ft is the profound changes which the war is creating in international relations that give the conference its significance. Forty nations] are represented by delegations from their respective governments, workers’ organisations and employers’ organisations. No Axis country is among these, and liussia is also an absentee, although jn her case the Conference has postponed some decisions in the hope that she later may be brought into association with the Organisation. So far what is called “The Philadelphia Charter,” has formally been adopted. It outlines the 1.L.0. aims, as those of furthering full employment and higher living standards throughout the world; the employment of workers in occupations enabling them to use the fullest measure of skill ■ wage and hours policies giving to the workers a just share of the proceeds of industry and a living wage as a minimum; and the recognition of collective bargaining and of the collaboration of both workers and employers alike in social and economic measures. The foregoing is a most comprehensive programme so much so that no disappointment need be felt if some at least of the signatories should hasten rather slowly towards its realisation in. practice. If there is any phrase calculated to sum up the 1.L.0. objective it is that which the New Zealand Labour Government has instituted as the description of its legislation — social security. One of the fundamental issues, as the latest reports show, is the part which the employing classes can be induced to take towards sharing the. proceeds of industry and maintaining the levels of employment and cooperating for this purpose on an international scale. The workers generally look for a change in the relationship between themselves and the employers, so that work and production shall bo carried on, not primarily for private profit alone, but for the general good. ft is, however, a disappointment to find that the Conference is not going to -tlnr length that New Zealand and Australia had expected. Mr. Nash being chairman, it has been the role of the Australian Government, delegate, Mr. J. Beasley, to state the case for these Dominions.

Earlier Mr. Beasley remarked | that without an unemployment! agreement, other international proposals will he no more than a dangerously deceptive veneer covering the fundamental problems of international society. New Zealand has gone much further than any other country to provide full employment. Australia is probably a good second. But Mr. Beasley has just remarked at the Conference that the United States, while putting a social security plan before the 1.L.0. has 1 definitely balked at entering an agreement for international cooperation forthwith to maintain full employment, and to check any decline in employment. The Americans, instead, have proposed that the nations shall wait until unemployment develops before even conferring upon the means of a remedy. Presumably that attitude will have a greater backing than the attitude of these two countries whose governments arc exponents of Labour ideals. However, it seemed incongruous a few years ago at an Imperial Conference when the customary agenda was varied to discuss social scurity by the late New Zealand Prime Minister. Yet to-day social security is the main issue at this conference of the representatives of forty nations. It is from the ranks of the workers that there has come a great majority of the men upon whom victory in the war depends, and they will not be apt to allow the idea of social security to fade into obscurity. The agreement ley unite in ensuring full employment, while not on this occasion attainable, is nearer attainment than before, and may come as soon as the necessity for it becomes more imperative when servicemen have to be restored to normal life again.