The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. TUESDAY, SEPT. 16, 193O. THE DOMINION AT GENEVA.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 September 1930, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. TUESDAY, SEPT. 16, 1930. THE DOMINION AT GENEVA.

For the first time in the history of the League of Nations, New Zealand was represented this year at the International Labour Conference at Geneva. Those representing New Zealand were Professor A. 11. T'ocker, of Canterbury University, representing the New Zealand Government; Mr Jamep Robert's, Secretary of the New Zealand Alliance of Labour, representing the workers of the Dominion, and Hon. T. Shaiier Weston, M.L.0., President of the New Zealand Employers'- Federation, who represented the employers of New Zealand. Hon. Weston, it is interesting to recall, received his primary editation at the Hokitika State School, $0 that another pupil of the early days, who hats gone abroad has been able to occupy a conspicuous post, with distinction. Speaking of his visit to Geneva, Mr Weston told a London correspondent that the experience was very interesting, for one met representatives from so many dilferent nationalities, and most of them are able speakers. It is questionable whether it is advisable for New Zealand at present to send a delegation regularly every year. It is expensive owing to distance, and difficult for the same men to get away. Unless the personnel of the delegation is the same for several visits it would not carry great weight. Sixty per cent of the delegates at this conference have now come regularly for some years past, the majority of them since its inception ten years ago. Pen nudity is everything, and your co-dt legates have to get to know you and weigh up for themselves your qualificatons before they are prepared to listen seriously to what you may have to say. This is particularly the case among the employers’ delegates, representing nations which are in industrial anu economic competition with each other. ‘‘So far as industrial relations are Concerned,” continued Air Weston, “New Zealand is ahead of all the nations represented other than Australia, especially in the spirit of conciliation and confidence now growing up there between employers and Labour organisations. This is an all-important point, and it

will! be many years 'before other conntries reach this position. She lias developed along her own lines, which, as her delegates pointed out in the general discussion on the question of hours of work for salaried employees, were not the same as tho.se proposed in the report of the committee on tiia |, question. At the same time, although in view of the necessity for economy, New Zealand should for the present hesitate to incur the expense of an annual delegation, it is most desirable that her Government and the various labour and employees’ organisations should keep in the closest touch with the reports and questionnaires issued by the executive of the Bureau International du. Traivail, commonly known as the ‘B.I.TV This is the meet useful work to New Zealand now beng carried on by the BJ.T. It has become a great clearing house for information upon all ndustrial and commercial matters. It lias some very able and enthusiastic officials at its head. Moreover, especially a.s regards Japan, China and India, and othei Eastern countries, it is an import-ant safety valve against Bolshevistic and Communistic activities. It has, already led to some important reforms in those countries relating to child and women labour, and used wiisety will do much to improve conditions in those countries. It was for this rfcaSort that the recent conference referred for consideration 'by the executive the Cabling’ of U meeting in the East of delegates from the various Eastern nations. The ob» ject of this w;w to bring the work of the 8.1. T. more prominently before the citizens of those countries.’’ Provided the permanent executive of the 8.1. T. proceed slowly and do not attempt too much. Mr Weston thinks that this organisation might well vet become something approaching the 'World’s International Labour Parliament. He regards it as being fortunate at present in its permanent officials. The director, M. Thomas, is a great speaker, shrewd, and actuated by the most humane feelings. The assistant director, Mr Butler, comes to the 8.1. T. from the British Foreign Office, of which he was a distinguished member. This is a sufficient recommendation in itself, as the higher men of the British civil service are, with rare exceptions, me-; of intelligence and character, and thoroughly trained. The Government members of the British delegation! were a sufficient proof of this. New Zealand’s first venture to distant Geneva, therefore appears to be quite worth while, and the publicity gained shoujld prove of all round advantage.