The Labour Conference The question of hours of work in
coal mines is due for discussion at the International Labour Conference at Geneva, which began on Thursday. The draft convention which failed to pass last year's Conference on the final vote will presumably be the basis of discussion. By that convention time "spent in the mine " would be limited to seven and three-quarter hours a day. British masters and men, who are willing enough to be included in some international convention, need assurances that any hours fixed are to,be reckoned in the same way in all the countries concerned. They also know the difficulties of enforce- ment, for at the bottom of all the delays over signing the Washington Eight Hours Agreement and other self- restricting legislation, lies . the feeling that, if we sign, we shall legislate , and carry out the conditions : will our competitori abroad do the same ? Does the signature of a Chinese delegate at Geneva carry conviction that his work will be followed throughout every province of China ? Wages will not be discussed.
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