A 70-Hour Week In days when the 48-hour week as
a maximum is regarded as something axiomatic in the industries of this country it comes as an unwelcome shock to find speakers in the House of Commons declaring that large numbers of young people under 18 are working 60 and 70 hours a
week, and to find Ministers tacitly admitting the allega- tions but protesting that to pass restrictive legislation prOhibiting such abuses would lay an undue burden on industry at the present time. As several Conservative members, who very rightly voted against the Government on this issue last Friday, pointed out, it is ridiculous to maintain that the stability of British industry depends on the employment of van-boys and messengers for ten and twelve hours a day. If a National Government cannot face a question of this kind when it has a Children's and Young People's Bill actually before the House, what can it do ? The ratification of the Washington Hours Con- vention acquires a new urgency in view of last Friday's
debate. * * « *
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