A Seaman's Charter The Maritime Session of the International Labour
Office, which ended at Geneva on Saturday, is the first which has ever adopted all of the draft conventions before it. The code established in the six agreements approved will, if ratified by individual Governments, mean an immense improvement in the condition of sea- men ; it well deserves the name of the Seaman's Charter. It lays down a 48-hour week in port, a 48-hour week at sea for those organised by the day, with a 56-hour week for those organised in watches ; this should be compared with the National Union of Seamen's agreement with British shipowners for a 56-hour week with an extra eight hours on certain conditions. The convention on annual holidays with pay prescribes. a 9-day holiday for seamen and a 12-day one for officers ; further conventions establish sickness insurance, owner's liability for sickness, injury and death, and lay down minimum requirements of professional capacity for officers this last convention should be of great assistance to unem- ployed certificated OfficerS. Despite, or because of, the advantages it gives to seamen it will not be easy to secure the ratification of the code in this country ; the British Government delegates voted in a minority against every convention except-that on sickness insurance,-
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