The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-09-22
CANADIANS DISCUSS
NATIONS INDUSTRY
Industrial Conference Fails to
Agree on 8 Hour Day and
a. Hour Week.
WATCHED BY AMERICANS
Sir Robert Borden Warns Del
egates of Needs Of Much
Greater Production.
Special Ds.potcn TO THE Sur.


b OTTAWA, Sept 2o.-whatever good
effect the six days of discussion Of
economic and social problems carried
forward in the National Industrial Con-
ference may have, the meeting was I'M
able to agree on any course Of action
respecting the eight hour day and forty
four hour week question, which was the
most urgent subject before the confer
ence. The employers section of the
special committee agreed to recommend
that Government commissions, with
equal representation for the employers
and employees, be appointed to investi-
gate how the labor principles of the
peace treaty could be adapted to the
dustries of Canada.
The employees section agreed with
the recommendations of the Royal Com
mission urging the adoption Of an eight
hour day by law throughout Canada,
with due regard and recognition of the
Saturday half holiday where. same pre-
walls and It's possible extension" Ex-
emption from the operation Of such law
for seasonal industries where climate is
a factor was recommended IL 1t can be
established that operation OF the eight
hour day law is not practicable for
them.
Agriculture. with which more than
half the people of Canada are related
IN vocational way, was not represented.
The attempt to snatch an expression
Of opinion favorable to the eight men
out on bail at Winnipeg. who have to
60 IL
coed. The conference was firm for law.
The Government made a daily allow
ance of $40 and transportation costs
to the delegates. The conference will
cost the country about $4,000.
Wide Difference Disclosed.
The speeches during the last hours of
the conference demonstrated that wide
differences exist and that the time for
compromise had not arrived. The labor
men were Of the moderate school. the
extremists not being invited to be pres
ent. Their position was reasonable, but
the employers were firm in the position
that home competition and export trade
had to be considered, and 1t were better
to make haste slowly.
The conference was very representa-
tive of the industry of Canada, capital,
lhDOT anu but Nic COili-
munity was not as fairly represented
as it might have been. The federal and
provincial governments had men to rep
resent them; the bench. the bar. the
banks, the press but the colleges, an
important factor in connection with any
discussion Of economic and sociological
questions, were not represented in proper
strength. A conspicuous absentee. was
DR.. Adam Short, first economist in Can
ada, and for years an active man on
boards of Cancellation. And there are
half a dozen other university men who
would have added power to the gather
ing had they been present.
/, The conference did not lack for good
speakers, but It did lack in men who
were masters in the realm of economic
and social science; and this gathering
had to deal with problems In which
those two sciences are needed in CO.
operation. Organized labor In Canada
has not yet developed mn who are the
equals of those in England and on the
Continent, but they are coming 1t is
for this reason that Englishmen and
Scotsmen take a prominent place among
the labor leaders OF Canada. They are
we'll read in economics and politics and
know the tactics and strategy of de-
bate and negotiations. Capital had al
able friend in Sir John Wilson of the
third group. who was the equal Of any