A.—sb.

The present Advisory Committee on Social Questions has taken the place of the former Advisory Committees T ffi W Welfare of Children and Young People, which was divided into two Committees the Traffic m Women and Children Committee, and the Child Welfare Committee The Rapporteur said that the committee realized that the welfare of children could not be considered apart from the welfare of the family and the committee would take this wider view of its functions n, lt (Wa ,f neral . surve y °f questions connected with the welfare of the young the committee pointed out that this work covered more than they could or should deal with and in some of the subjects they would consult other organs of the League for the purpose of co-operation. The Rapporteur expressed the hope that the Council would agree that the protection of minors could not be separated from measures of social systems designed to afford minors economic protection in their own homes. One of the first subjects of study would be the administration and organization of welfare work among the young This r n "^ 8 ? Pu° Im F IOVe tie administrative organization of some countries: The study would be limited to a number of representative countries. It was also decided to consider the training of persons engaged in social work. The committee advocated more active propaganda to call attention to the activities of the League in welfare and social It was further suggested that a periodica] bulletin or review should be published Ihe committee s activities generally under child welfare are (1) A centre of international documentation, in order to facilitate the exchange of experiences m res , s between Governments and voluntary organizations ; (-,) A centre of study which would conduct, direct or simply initiate international or national inquiries on social questions ; (3) A centre of action to organize co-operation between Governments, prepare conventions agreements, international conferences, &c„ and establish co-operation between private organizations dealing with international social questions. On the subject of" The Normal Life of the Child in the Family" the work of the committee co vers the general problem of the erring and delinquent child, and the placing of children in families The committee noted that there was a growing sense of the responsibility on the part of the State for of\2h *1 C lf and family life, and that there was a tendency for a correlation of various phases of health and welfare under responsible Government departments. There was a similar movement for the correlation of voluntary effort. In noting the report of_ the Health Organization on Nutrition, the committee emphasized the importance of social aid and instruction for the individual family. In discussing the report of the Liaison Officer with the International Labour Office concerning the situation of young unemployed persons, the committee thought that an opportunity should be taken to examine the situation further, and to suggest means of preventing such severe unemployment as had arisen m recent years among young persons, with all its serious consequences Children and 1 oung Persons m Banger of Neglect or Delinquency.—The committee was in a position to state its conclusions regarding the methods of dealing with erring and delinquent minors and adopted a series of principles applicable to juvenile Courts and their auxiliary services and institutions Ihe committee proposes to print a documentation covering the placing of children in families with an introduction containing the underlying principles and theories on the subject. Before printing this documentation the committee thought it would be useful if Governments could forward comment! and suggestions on the chapters of the report dealing with their respective countries. The SecretaryGeneral was therefore instructed to ask Governments to do this. The Rapporteur suggested that the contents of Chapter I of the study should be transmitted to Governments at the same time. Traffic in Women and Children.—The committee noted that an even smaller number of countries than in the previous year had sent m information on the traffic in women and children and obscene publications. Accordingly the questionnaire covering these subjects is to be rearranged. In regard to the abolition of licensed houses, the results during the past year represented the greatest advance ever achieved in any one year since the beginning of the abolitionist movement The conference at Bandoeng had declared m favour of abolition as a final goal; such a declaration would have been impossible even a few years ago. The committee were encouraged by the fact that abolition was now accompanied or preceded by anti-venereal measures. The committee also dealt with the inquiry into the rehabilitation of adult prostitutes. A report based on the documentation from forty-five countries is shortly to be issued. Parts of the study which can be regarded as complete will be issued separately, especially the section on the antecedents of prostitutes and that dealing with the supply of social services as part of the provision for the treatment of venereal disease. J _ The committee considered the question of preventive measures,' especially with regard to minors who are m danger of becoming prostitutes. The committee agreed that the same factors which contributed to delinquency were factors also predisposing to prostitution. Concerning the spare time of young workers and conditions in domestic service, the hope was expressed that close collaboration could be established between the committee and the International -Labour organization. The comnnttee examined the answers sent in by thirty-seven Governments on the Draft Convention for the Suppression of the Exploitation of Prostitution of other Persons. Nearly all the Governments which replied expressed their agreement with the object and main principles of the draft and it was hoped that a Convention might soon be concluded. The report and the following resolution were adopted :— " The Council notes the report of the Advisory Committee on Social Questions on the work of its first session and adopts the present report and its conclusions."

21