The work of the Conference was not confined to an examination of various questions "placed on the agenda with a view to the adoption of international regulations, 'As usual, an important debate, in which a large number of speakers participated, occurred on the. report of the Director, Mr. Harold Butler. 'This discussion' ranged mostly over the dominant tendencies in various national economies, emphasizing in particular the resuits of expansionist economic policies, It also indicated that the economic recovery observed thas no solid basis, 2, Reduction of Hours of Work The second draft convention opted related to the reduction of hours of work on public works undertaken or subsidised by Govern~ ments.
It provided that the working week should not exceed an average of 40 hours per week, except in the case of necessarily continuous work in which the average hours of work may average 42.
This draft convention came before the Conference as a result of the general convention adopted last year fon the institution of the "40- hour week—without—_ lowering the workers' standard of living, and in accordance with the decision to proceed to the application of this principle to various groups of industries and occupations. The principle already had been applied by the nineteenth session of the Conference {othe glass-bottle industry.
Three other proposed draft conventions, on which a frst discussion took place last year, came before the Conference in the same way as the Con-Vention on Public Works. These. dealt with building and civil engineering, the iron and steel industry, and coo} mines Although there was a large majority in favour of these conventions, they were not adopted because the final vote did not ive the necessary two-thirds majority. Nevertheless, the Conference decided, in adopting the resolutions, to continue the study of this question in regard to these industries, asking the Governing Body of the International Labour 'Ofice, with this end in view, to con-yoke' preparatory tripartite conferences.
'A similar decision was taken in regard to the textile industry, which came up for a first discussion. At, the same time, the Conference deid that there for anxiety because this recovery is. still partly due to armaments, activities This debate emphasized 1 sity of vigorous general action with a view to the restoration of the free circulation of wealth and of men, in which action the International Labour Organisation must take part.
"The Conference also had before it various reports prepared by the International Labour Ofice on the following questions: workers, nutrition and social policy; Opium and the workers; Collective agreements; the protection of migrant workers.
The Conference adopted resolutions on the first two reports.
'The last one was sent to a commis sion which submitted a' resolution expressing the hope that the study. of the problem of migration would soon lead to conclusi be brought before the Confere "The Conference also had to consider the conclusions of the Committee on-trusted with the task of examining the repens which, under the Constitution of the Iniernational Labour Organisation, States members must send to the Office on the application of Conventions ratified by them.
The Conference adopted certain amendments to its Standing Orders.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.