898 



International Labot:r Conference. 



[Jan., 



agricultural questions, it was decided to take a vote ou each 

 item separately. 



The subject on which feehng was most pronounced was the 

 jjroposal for the regulation of the hours of work in agiiculture. 

 In the form in which this proposal was put to the Conference 

 it amounted to no more than a recommendation that the regu- 

 lation of houi's of work should be voluntarily determined by 

 agreement between organisations representative of employers and 

 employed. 



The question before the Conference at this stage was not, how- 

 ever, the merits of the proposal but merely the question whether 

 this subject should be admitted for discussion. After considerable 

 debate the matter was put to the vote and failed by five votes 

 to obtain the necessary two-thirds majority, the figures being 

 63 to 39. 



At a subsequent stage of the proceedings a Resolution was 

 passed recommending that the question should be included in 

 the Agenda of a future Conference. 



This subject having been disposed of, there was little opposi- 

 tion to the remaining items relating to agriculture being con- 

 sidered and the necessary majorities were obtained without 

 difficulty. 



These agricultural questions were then divided into three 

 groups and refeiTed to separate Committees for consideration. 

 The Committees reported, and after discussion certain Con- 

 ventions or Eecommendations were accepted and passed by the 

 full Conference. 



Prevention of Unemployment. — The Eecommendation 

 adopted on this subject dealt with the prevention of unemploy- 

 ment in agriculture from the point of view not only of directly 

 taking measures to diminish unemployment but rather more 

 generally ^o try to create a condition of gi'eater stability and of 

 increased employment of agi'icultural workers. In effect it 

 merely suggests certain methods and invites the Governments 

 to study those methods and to apply them as far as they can 

 be ma-de applicable in the particular conditions of each country, 

 and to report how they work with a view to building up a body 

 of information and experience amongst various countries. 



The Eecommendation is as follows : — 



"Considering that the Convention and Recommendations concerning 

 unemployment adopted at Washington are in principle applicable to 

 agricultural workers and recognising the special character of unemploy- 

 ment in agriculture, the International Labour Conference recommends 

 that each Member of the International Labour Organisation should 



