LABOUR TALKS

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 24878, 27 April 1944, Page 6

LABOUR TALKS

PLIGHT OF EUROPE JUSTICE DEMANDED 'AMERICA AND POST-WAR By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright (Reed. 6.35 p.m.) LONDON, April 26 The International Labour Organisation conference yesterday discussed the plight of the peoples of occupied Europe. A correspondent says the biggest ovation of the conference so far was given to the Norwegian Government delegate, "v\ ho pleaded for greater representation for the occupied countries. He reminded the conference that Germany was threatening to exterminate the Poles and Czechs as well as Jews, and to lay waste France, Belgium. Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Denmark and Norway. The peoples of the occupied countries, he said, did not call for retaliation or revenge, butthey did demand justice. Implementing Work of 1.L.0. The United States Secretary of Labour. Miss Frances Perkins, told the conference that the United States would "favour formal action by the United Nations to extend the influence of conventions and recommendations adopted at International Labour conferences." She added: "The present moment seems to us the proper one in which to implement the past Lo years' work of the 1.L.0. Standards must be built up gradually, but I think we should ask ourselves whether the time his not come when some of these standards could be made more nearly universal." Miss Perkins said that every nation in the world to-day had accepted as axiomatic the idea that man should be able to live as a result of the work he did and the contribution he made to societv. "It must be accepted as a fundamental labour standard," she added, "that steady and regular jobs will be available for all who are able to accept work, discipline and achieve some minimum skill and efficiency. Re-employment ot Women "In the transition from war to peace." Miss Perkins continued, "we shall have to guard against the erection of barriers to employment. The needs of individuals who are seeking work must be recognised. All nations should undertake that in their plans for the demobilisation of war industries special attention be given to the needs or women for re-employment. "Failure to do so will result not on\y in exclusions from employment oi women who need jobs, but in decrease in the standards of living. We should never again allow trained workers and developed facilities available for production, and needed goods and services to remain idle while the needs of large parts of the world s population remain unsatisfied." The Indian Government delegation asked the 1.L.0. to hold a conference of Asiatic nations on the ground that Indian and Chinese problems could not be solved in Philadelphia, Montreal or Geneva. GENERAL RETIRING NO OPERATIONAL POST ESCAPE FROM SINGAPORE PERTH, April 26 Lieutenant-General Henry Gordon Bennett, officer commanding the Third 'Australian Army Corps in Western Australia. will retire from the Army this week. He was 56 years old tins month and commanded the Australian Eighth Division in Malaya. He had a distinguished career in the First World War. He will now resume practice as a chartered accountant in Sydney. . It is understood General Bennett is resigning because his claim to an opetational position has not been recognised. He said: "I still desire to serve in some operational theatre, preferably, of course, on the road back to Singapore and Malaya, but this gate has been closed to me." The general's escape from Singapore in a small boat stirred the world. With members of his staff he escaped on lebxuary 15, 1942, two hours alter the armistice had been signed when they were technically prisoners of war. In reply to criticism from a section or the public that General Bennett should not have escaped, the Australian Minister of the Army. Mr. F. M. Forde, announced in Parliament that his action in escaping had been endorsed Tbv the War Cabinet and the Service Chiefs of Staff. The military staff. Mr. Forde said, had been unanimous m the ■view that as General Bennett remained for two hours after the surrender he must be completely exonerated. In the last- war General Bennett became a brigadier at the age of 29. He was appointed chairman of the JSew South Wales Repatriation Board on his return, and remained in that_ position until the board was abolished in 1927. STATE ELECTIONS ISSUE IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA (Reed. 5.35 p.m.) ADELAIDE, April '26 The issue in the South Australian elections to be held on Saturday has been narrowed down to what largely resembles a referendum fight. In spite of the Labour Party's tremendous gams in this State in last year's Federal elections, most political observers expect that the Liberal and Country League Government will be returned to office. The Government's majority, however, is likelv to be smaller than at present, but the Premier, Mr. Playford, is assured of support on general lines from the three Independents, who appear certain of re-election. A Labour victory in this "State would be a strong indication that success for the Commonwealth's referendum is likely. ) PEER SENTENCED LORD LANGFORD'S CASE LONDON, April 25 Lord Langford, the New Zealandborn peer, who appeared in the Thames Police Court on several charges', of fraud, has been sentenced to four months', imprisonment. Lord Langford pleaded guilty of obtaining money by fake pretences and of attempting to obtain money with intent to defraud. The magistrate said Lord Langford had sullied the family escutcheon and smirched the honourable reputation hitherto belonging to his family. AID FROM LEND-LEASE GREAT CONTRIBUTION XEecd. 6.10 p.m.) NEW YORK. April 26 More than 2100 planes have been distributed by the United States under the lend-lease programme during the first two months of this year. In addition, almost 2000 tanks and 60,000 other motor vehicles were distributed. The United States in the past three year's has delivered more than 30,000 planed to other Allied nations. USE OF LIBERTY SHIPS Ptecd. 5.35 p.m.) WASHINGTON, April 25 Commenting on the breaking-up of the Liberty ship John Straub off Alaska, Senator H. S. Truman said the. War Department recently discontinued the use of Liberty ships as troop transport 5 ! and hospital ships.