London, Feb. 18, In reply to questions in the House Commons to-day Sir Arthur} Steel-Baitland s: s showed that the working hours of cotton in Japan in 1924 averaged nine and a quarter hours a day, with we shifts daily, Mr. Johnstone (Labour) suggested that Japanese machinery was! runing 22 hours a day, He asked whether the Government had re: fused to invite Japan to the inter-ational conference dealing with the eight hour day convention, and whether it was proposed to boycott a country whose goods were pro-dyeed in violation of the Washington Convention, Sir Arthur Steel-Maitland replied that he was not aware the Japs mills were working for 22 ho daily, but if Mr. Johnstone had any. fresh' information he would be glad to get it. As regards the contercence, the Minister pointed out that} as a preliminary it was aimed to get some agreement from some of! the principal countries, after which ft would be practi 6 other countries.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.