London, Mar. 19.
The conference of "Ministeré of Labour'on hours of industry, which, opened last Monday in London, concluded its sittings at half-past two this mornit it Arthur Steel-Maitland, British jer of Labour, in closing the conference, said: "The British Government decided to convene this conference because it desired to see how far it was possible to secure agreement amongst the principal 1 States as to principles greement fcr regula. tion of hours of labour, This was without prejudice to other nations. It is no doubt desirable to obtain reement among others than those invited but the possibility of agreement among the four nations here present with us is indispensable if a wider measure of agreement is to.be obtained. particular the British Government felt it necessary to examine the difficulties surrounding Washington Convention and to certain to what extent it would be practicable to ensure uniformity interpretation combined with assurances as to effective operation and cifectment, Tam sure we all agree that the conference has been able greatly to advance a solution of the lo question of hours of labour} m_an international standpoint and I acknowledge with cordiality and gratitude the ce-operation of my colleagues to that end."
Wider Agreements Needed Later.
In a communique with regard to} International fours of Labour Conference, Sir Arthur Steel-Maitland declares that "the possibility of agreement among. the five nations represented at the conference i indispensable if a wider measure st agreement is to be obtained, The Conference had advanced the whole question of hours of labour from an international standpoint, Following speeches by other dele. gates an agreement consisting of highly technical clauses war signed, The agreement concludes with an undertaking to report to their respective Governments the conclusions reached, s0 that the Governments which have mot ratified may proceed with consideration of ratification, taking into account. the agreements reached. The British Government will formally report the conference conclusions to the International Labour Offee—Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.