Evening star., 1933-03-26
. ENEvA.-Despite the opposition

~ ENEVA-DeSplte the OppOSltlOn
Of the representatives of en-
7 ployers, the governing board
~ of the International Labor Of
flee, which is composed OF
equal numbers of representatives OF
has decided that not only will the ques-
ton of an international agreement to
reduce working hours be discussed next
June, at the annual conference, but the
customary procedure of the Labor Office
will be laid aside. Heretofore, proposed
conventions have always been discussed
one year and formulated the next. This
year the conference will be empowered
to draft and submit to governments for
ratification, convention calling for in
ternational legaization OF a 4O-hour
week.
While employers did not challenge
the desirability of such reform as a
means of combating unemployment
and increasing the purchasing capacity
of the public, they opposed making it
compulsory. The governments repre-
sented, however, had before them con-
stantly the ever-increasing burden on
their budgets in caring for the millions
of unemployed.
France, for example, faces II ,000,-
900, 900 franc deficit this year despite
desperate efforts to cut down expend1-
lures. Her unemployed had been dou-
bling In number yearly. The sums allo-
Gated for unemployment insurance and
relief have quadrupled. And what is
more striking Is that about one out OF
every six Frenchmen is an employe OF
the government, which means that every
five Frenchmen support sixth through
taxation.
Belgium's Expenses Mount.
Belgium's expenditures for unemploy-
ment have reached point where dras-
tic revision Is necessary. In 1880 the
government expended 32,000,000 francs
for insurance and relief. In 1881 ex-
penditures for the same purpose
reached 365,000,000 francs, while last
years sum was much larger.
Germany's governmental contribution
towards the support of her 100000 idle
workers was 1,15l 100000 marks ($272,
500,000), in 1928 before the real depres-
sion set in. In 1881 1t mounted to
$743,500,000.
Britain's expenditures during the
fiscal year Of 1928 have been esti-
mated by the treasury at 100000, 900
normal exchange, as against about one
third that figure before the depression
became serious.
In Switzerland the drain on the fed
eral treasury has increased about Is
times since 1925, when conditions were
normal, while Holland and Poland have
had to quadruple their unemployment
relief as compared with two years ago
Italy, where the Fascist government
holds expenditures down to q minimum
expended 115,600,000 lire in 1880, as
against 33,800 900 on unemployment in.
SlIrance in 1925
Practically every other European
government shows similar conditions.
In 20 industrial countries from which
comparatively definite figures are oh.
tainable, the annual losses in wages oi
24,000,000 wholly unemployed workers
is estimated at not less than $21 ,000,-
100000.
The beneficial effects OF reduction oi
hours and redistribution of available
employment over the largest number o.
workers has been proved beyond al
doubt, according to labor Office Off
cials, who are charged wits rckinl
recommendations to the coming Worle
Economic Conference and the Junt
Labor Conference. Figures have nov
been collected from q score of coun'
tries. They all point the same way