EIGHT HOURS’ DAY

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 687, 12 June 1929, Page 9

EIGHT HOURS’ DAY

BRITAIN SOON TO RATIFY CONVENTION GENEVA ANNOUNCEMENT (Australian and N.Z. Press Association) Reed. 11 a.m. GENEVA, Tuesday. It is announced that Britain w ill, as soon as possible, ratify the Eight Hours* Day Convention. She also intends ratifying the international convention on minimum wages, and the seamen’s agreement. The International Labour Conference is sitting at Geneva. At today’s meeting the delegates debated the question of the prevention of accidents to employees engaged in loading and unloading ships, on which the Labour Office had drafted a convention. This required numerous safety appliances on ships and on shore. The last-named included the specific lighting of wharves, certain types of roads, and bridges over docks and landing-places. A London message says the “Evening News” states that about 90 per cent, of the industrial workers in Britain work eight hours a day or less, so that the application of the convention will not make a great difference. A British Official Wireless message «ays that in a cordial message yesterday expressing at the earliest opportunity the goodwill of the British Government to the President and leaders of the International Labour Organisation, the Prime Minister, Mr. Ramsay MacDonald, stated: “We are deeply sensible of the work performed by the International Labour Organisation, with a view to the improvement of the conditions of labour throughout the world, in furtherance of the aims of the peace treaty.” In reply, the president of the conference expressed the hearty thanks of the conference, and added: “The conference warmly welcomes your assurance of the whole-hearted cooperation of your Government, and keenly appreciates the value of your collaboration in furthering the aims of the International Labour Organisation.”