LABOUR’S PALACE AT GENEVA.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 25 June 1925, Page 2

LABOUR’S PALACE AT GENEVA.

COSTS 300,000 A YEAR, HUGE ARMY OF OFFICIALS. "GENEVA. June 1. The greater part of- to-day’s discussions at the International Labour Conference has been taken up by an endeavour on the part of the DirectorGeneral of the International-. Labour Office (M. Albert Thomas) to justify the existence of his institution, costing £300,000 a year. He made reference to the fact that the new building is nearly completed'. This will house an army of highsalaried officials. 1 The new office is an imposing building fronting the lake, and is more like a Royal palace than the headquarters of an industrial body professing to serve the interests of the working, men of the world. Mr. Thomas deplored the curtailment of funds by the League.of Nations’ Assembly. Many questions, being considered at this conference have a large bearing on the wages question, and the aim of the organisation to improve and equalise labour conditions throughout the world by means of international agreementsi Nevertheless, when the conventions' are being drawn up on workmen’s compensation and other, kindred- subjects, the differing standards of wages iii various countries appear to be- overloked, and in consequence those, countries where a decent standard of. living exists are put on the same basis as those countries wher© wages are: fifty per cent, lower.

The work of the committee, is nearing when the- draft conventions will come before the Conference for discussion. .*