A—7

Collective Bargaining The South African Government delegate submitted an amendment to the Article dealing with collective bargaining, with the object of restricting the application of the policy to cases where it is practicable. He pointed out that, while his Government recognized, in principle, the policy of collective bargaining, the universal application of such a policy in South Africa presented many practical difficulties, chief amongst which was connected with the large number of African workers in the mines. In the considered opinion of his Government, an opinion based on an expert investigation, these workers had not yet reached a stage of development which would make it safe or even useful to apply the principles of collective bargaining. The South African amendment was supported by employers' delegates from several countries, but was defeated on a vote being taken. The position was met to some extent by the adoption of a proposal that where the appropriate competent authority is satisfied that the workers have not reached a stage of development which will enable them to negotiate on a footing of equality with employers' organizations, specially qualified persons shall be appointed to assist the workers in such negotiations. Land Policy There was a marked division of opinion on the Article dealing with land policy. The proposal before the Committee was designed to control the alienation of agricultural land to non-agriculturists, and to provide for supervision of tenancy arrangements with a view of securing for tenants and workers an equitable share in any advantages accruing from improvement in productivity or price levels. B The French Government delegate moved to delete the Article, being supported by the South African Government delegate and the French employers' and workers' delegates. The motion for deletion, however, was rejected by 38 votes to 29 votes. Holidays The principle of an annual holiday for workers in dependent territories was generally approved, but considerable discussion developed on the question of the length of such holiday. The office text before the Committee provided for " at least six workingdays," but several amendments were submitted on this text. One amendment provided for fourteen days, another for fifteen days; but a suggestion from the United Kingdom Government delegate to speak of twelve working-days was accepted, and an amendment was finally submitted in that form. The proposal to grant twelve working-days met with considerable opposition, but, on beingj put to the vote, was carried by 31 votes to 30 votes, the closest division throughout the whole of the Committee's sittings. During the early deliberations of the Committee, Mr. Moston, New Zealand Government delegate, furnished a full report on the social policy pursued by our Government in dependent territories. When' the Committeee's report finally came before the Conference, two amendments were submitted for decision. The first sought to alter the Committee's report on the question of annual holidays, but this was defeated. The second, calling for a minor alteration in one of the clauses dealing with the duties of Labour Inspectors, was carried. Two other matters were brought before the Committee; one was a suggestion by the United States employers' delegate that the International Labour Organization should consider the establishment of a vocational training service for dependent territories; the second, submitted by the United States workers'

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