THE BERLIN LABOR CONFERENCE.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XV, Issue 4674, 22 May 1890, Page 4

THE BERLIN LABOR CONFERENCE.

The Comralttea on tho regulation of female l»bor and of young persons In industrial trades passed tho following reaolotions:—"lt Is desirable that children of both sexes noder twelve years ahonld be excloded from industrial work. Fjr southern countries tho limit suggested is ten years." "That no difference and no exceptions be admitted; and that tho children should, bef ire beginning, have fulfilled all their edocational obligations.' ••That children under fourteen should be excluded from night and Sunday work ; that their effective work should no: hat longer Ihsn six hours daily, wiih at least half an hour's rest. That they should be exc'uded from all unhealthy or dangerous occupations." The British delegate cave bU approving vote, but with certain reservations. With certain restrictions the work of children between ten and twelve Is to be admitted, as In England ; though in practice, especially In textile industries, only children over twelve are to be employed. With regard to the demand that childjco, before being employed in Industrial work, shall hive tho nsc<!33ary education, Mr Seott wss of opinion that this question balooss more to the Eiucitloo Act than tba F<dory Act. ConcernIng; the regulation of the work of young persons, It was agreed thit workers of both sexes between the ages of fourteen and sixteen should not work either at night or on Sanday, that their effective work should not last longer than ten hours a day, with at least one hour and a balf of complete rest, that exceptions should be admitted, that further restrictions might be enforced, particularly in unhealthy and dangerous occupations; and that some protection should be granted to youths between 16 and 18 with regard to tba maximum working day, work at night, and working In daoga-ous Industrie*. Concerning the regulation of female labor, it was revived that married or unmarried women over 16 years of ase shoald not work either a: night or on Sunday, that their work should not exceed 11 hours a day, with one and a half hour's rest. Gmnaoy proposed two hours' rest, that exceptions should be admitted for certain industries, th»t further restrictions of working hours should oa granted for particularly dangerous and unhealthy occupations, and that women should not be employed for four weeks after their accaochement. Sir Scott proposed to Sx an avermze of 10 hours a day for women, and his proposal wai supported by Hungary, Fraccj, and Portugal.