BACK FROM GENEVA

Hokitika Guardian, 22 October 1930, Page 3

BACK FROM GENEVA

WORK OF LABOUR CONFERENCE

Telegi aph--Per Press Association

WELLINGTON, October 20

The value to New Zealand of being represented at the international Labour Conference (Geneva) was stressed b.y Air J. Roberts, Secretary to the New Zealand Alliance of Labour, and the N.Z. workers’ representative at the conference, who returned from abroad bv the Alaluun..

“Geneva is worth while to New Zealand,” he . said. “This country should be represented there each year, to keep in touch with world movements in relation to labour matters. Geneva is. the world’s centre. Tne. ten den y is for each country in Europe to establish the same hours of employment and working conditions, in order to allow fair competition for home and foreign markets. Referring to tlie objects of the conference, the main questions discussed—hours of work of salaried employees, hours of work in coal mines and forced l.nhour, Air IV h rts said that New Zealand was in‘crested in them all, especially the Labour move incut, which was interested in anything affecting the Labour qi estidn. The great question' in Europe was unemployment, which was prevalent in every country except Fran-e, Norway, Sweden and Denmark. Unemployment in Belgium and Holland was not serious, but unemployment in all oth’■r countries, including Great Britain wiis serious and increasing every week. The American Federation <" Labour estimated there were 6,000.000 unemployment in United States. The cause of unemployment was he considered, due to the introduction of labour saving machinery and lack of foreign markets, the latter being duo in turn to the fact that most countries of the world were now becoming more or less industrial producers. There, were some three to three and a-half millions unemployed in Germany and two to two and a-half millions in Great Britain. There is a serious amount of unemployment in Italy, but a great number of Italian workmen found employment in semi-military- occupations to enforce the Fascists’ rule England. United State*, Germany and Ttaly appeared to be depressed. France had a very good balance of production which did not obtain in other European countries. She had wiped out three-quarters of her internal debt by deflation of the value of her currency. In connection with New Zealand goods, h c expressed the on-ini on there was riot half enough money spent in advertising the Dominion’s Produce. While other countries advertised their goods in every conceivable way, one did not see much advertising of New Zealand produce in England, except in New Zealand . House. On the other hand, Australia, apples were advertised iu all the bu'-os. He expressed the opinion that'Danish butter was marketed better than New Zealand butter;- The coop producers in Denmark to a great extent controlled the sale, of butter till it reached the retail .shops. There was much better organisation.; . •