MOMENTOUS PROBLEM

Southland Times, Issue 19345, 10 September 1924, Page 5

MOMENTOUS PROBLEM

UNIFORM HOURS OF LABOUR TO PBEVENT UNFAIR COMPETITION MOVE BY THE ALLIES (Times). BERNE, September 8. (Received September 9. 8 p.m.). The British, French and Belgian Labour Ministers met here to-day to discuss the application of the Washington Eight-hour Labour Convention. The special object of the Convention is to secure, if possible, simultaneous application of the eight-hour principle. Some of the nations have been waiting for others to take action, but some steps are becoming urgently necessary owing to the effect of the German Government’s order of December last, authorising an extension of the hours of work.

It appears that 50 per cent, of the workers in the industrial districts of Germany are working more than eight hours, while in Saxony and Rhenish Wesphalia they are working over 54 hours per week. ' Germany’s neighbours are being effected by her competition, which is likely to be intensified when the German industries are refurnished with capital under the Dawes Scheme.

The meeting will attempt to secure the official adhesion of all Governments to an indentical Convention which none will then be able to repudiate without notifying the others.