SOCIALIST CONGRESS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 118, 12 February 1919, Page 7

SOCIALIST CONGRESS

INTERNATIONAL LABOUR CHARTER MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS SPECIFIED By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Rec. February. 11, 8 p.m.) . "■■' ■ Berne, February 10. At the'.Socialist Conference Mr. Arthur Henderson moved a resolution specifying the minimum requirements for tlio International Labour Charter enforceable by the League of Nations at the conclusion of peace. The long list of requirements includes the prohibition of the employment of children under 15 years of age, continuation schools for workers'.between 15 years and 18 years; the restriction of the hours of work of women to four daily; the establishment of a forty-eight hour week; the abolition of night'work, except necessary technical work, when night work must be highly paid; the protection of the homes of workers; non-prohibition of emigration and immigration, through a small educational standard may be imposed on immigrants; the exchange of international labour statistics; the international linking up of labour exchanges; the establishment of wages boards and Stato insurance; the appointment of a permanent international commission, meeting annually, to promote international labour legislation and to co-operate with • the Intefnational Labour Bureau at Basle and the Trades Union Internationale, half the votes on the Commission being assigned to Labour.—Router. RETURN OF GERMAN COLONIES > DEMANDED ATROCITIES ADMITTED. (Rec. February 11, 8 p.m.) Berne, February 10. The Socialist Conference debated the Territorial Commission's resolution proclaiming the right of nations to settle their own destinies, and declaring that the populations of protectorates and colonies must be protected, by the League of Nations, which should educate tho populations for self-determination. In the course of the debate, Herr Mueller, a German Majority Socialist, while admitting tho atrocities in the German colonies, demanded the return of the colonies to the republic—Beu'ter. TRADE lINJOTCONGRESS CREATION OF POWERFUL LABOUR COUNCIL DEMANDED. (Ree. February 11, 8 p.m.) Berne, February 10. The Trade Union Congress ...has endorsed the demand of the Socialist- Conference that the representatives on the League of Nations should be elected by Parliaments, not by Cabinets. The Congress further demands the creation of a Labour council, representing the trades unions and professions, empowered to enforce its decisions on the con: stituent States without tho letter's ratification. The resolution recognises that this'means the creation of a super-na-k tional Times,':