GENEVA WATCHING N.Z.

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 100, 14 May 1937, Page 5

GENEVA WATCHING N.Z.

-Press AsBoeiatioc.)

Its Experiments Interesting — "Even if They Faif" I.L.O. OFFICER'S VIEW

(By Teleeraph-

AUCKLAND, This Day. "New Zealand and France, and perbaps Sweden, are Tegarded as providin gthe outstanding examples of the new tendecies in social organisation," said -Mr, W. E. Crocker, an offieial of the International Labour Office of tho League of Nations at Geneva, who arrived by the Mariposa. He will discuss with Government authorities and representatives of industry and labour probloms of common interest to his office and the Government. He is jproceeding to Wellington almost immediately. Two weeks hence he will go to Australia, and thenee to Geneva. Mr. Crocker saidthat his investig^ tions would concern more or less matters relating to international competition with a view to possible elimination of competition based on inferior standards of living. "We are following with very closq interest the efforts of New Zealand to modify its previous systems, particularly ita interesting effort to fix agricultural ' wages," he said. "I think any coixntry that carries through" social reconstruction, even if it is only partly successful — indeed, even if it fails — is of interest to other countries." He said he had no doubt that, when the New Zealand Minister of Labour, Mr. Armstrong, made his opening speech to the Geneva conference in a fortnight's time he would be received with most marked attention.