LABOR'S DEMANDS.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 April 1919, Page 6

LABOR'S DEMANDS.

commission'.? recommendations. a comprehensive charter. Tails. March 28. The Labor Commission made highly important unanimous recommendations for the insertion of the following clause in the peace treaty:— "The high contracting parties declare their acceptance of the following principles, and they engage to take all necessary steps to secure their realisation in accordance with the resolutions of the International Conference concerning their practical application:— "(1) In right and fact the labor of a human being should not be treated as mo'cbandise or an article of commerce "(2) Employers and workers should he allowed the right of association for all lawful purposes. "(3) No child should be permitted to be employed in industry or commerce before the ag» of fourteen. In order that the_ child may secure reasonable opportunities of mental and physical education young persons, of either sex between 14 and 18. may be employed only at work which is not harmful to the physical development and constitution and the continuation of technical and general education should be ensured. "(4) Every worker has a right to a wage adequr.te to maintain a reasonable standard of life, having regard to the civilisation of his time and country. "(5) Equal pay should be given to women and men for work of equal value in quantity and quality. "(6) A weekly Test, including' Sunday or its equivalent, should be granted for all workers. _ "(7) The hours of work should ha limited to the basis of eight hours a dav or 49 hours a week, subject to exceptions where climatic conditions, the imperfect development of industrial organisation or special circumstances render the -worker's efficiency substantially different. "'8) In all matters concerning status as workers and social standing foreign workmen should be lawfully admitted to a country and their families should be ensured the same treatment as nationals. "(9) All States should institute a svotem of inspection, in which women should partake, in order to ensure the enforcement of the law and regulations for the protection of workers." The commission has finished its draft for the convention under which the Labor section of the League of Nations is intended to work. This contention will not be dealt with until the preliminary peace terms are settled. ' The commission recommends that an International Labor Conference be held in Washington in October, 1019, and that an organising committee of seven members he appointed ( ' Paris. March 29 Details of the convention drawn up by the Paaca Conference Labor Commission show that the convention makes provision for old age and accident pensions, establishes two international Labor offices, a general conference composed of four representatives of each Power, of which two will be Government delegates, one each from the employers and employees. The conference will meet at least once a year. Delegates may be accompanied by two advisers, one of whom must be a woman, when women's questions nrc discussed. The Labor office will be established at the seat of the League of Nations as part of the league's organisation under a governing body of 24 members with a permanent director and staff of different nationalities, of whom a proportion must he women. The office wilt collect and distribute information and publish a journal, printed in various languages.

The convention provides tliat an International Court of .Tustice shall, where necessary, enforce the decisions of the conference. The Dominions, self-govern-insr colonies and India are given a status as high contracting parties. The Governments agree to apply the conventions to the colonies, except where local conditions require modifications. The protocol provides that the governing body shall comprise twelve Government, six employers, and six employees' representatives, of whom twothirds shall represent the eight principal industrial powers, one-third representing the other powers. The Dominions fire not entitled to separate representation on the governing bodv. Provision is made to deal with contracting nations who fail to fulfil the convention's demands—United Service.

JAPANESE SUPPORT. Paris, March 20. It is learned that the Japanese subscribe generally to the terms of the Labor Commission, with reservations on the questions of child labor and the right of association among women. The Japanese do not desire to see in Japan a combination of workmen of various Industrie? with its concomitant of agitation and unrest.—Aus.-NZ. Cable Assn.