A.—sc.

Conference, consisting of Government, employers', ancl workers' delegates, with a certain number of advisers ; and pointed out that representation was an extremely costly matter to distant countries. He suggested the inclusion in the Budget of the organization of credits for bringing complete delegations, with a compensation fund for distributing the cost more equitably. Inquiries made by the New Zealand Government delegation showed that this is a question which was raised as long ago as 1929, and was the subject of a note addressed by the Director of the International Labour Office on the 14th April, 1934, to the Supervisory Commission of the League of Nations. That Commission took the view that any measures adopted in favour of the International Labour Organization should naturally be extended also to delegations sent to the Assembly of the League of Nations. The Commission estimated that, the cost of such a proposal to cover both the Assembly of the League and the International Labour Conference would be 900,000 Swiss francs, and expressed the view that circumstances did not at that time warrant adding so heavy a burden to the League's Budget. This view was adopted by the Assembly of the League. The detailed estimates prepared by the International Labour Office at this time showed that the cost to New Zealand was three times that imposed on the most costly European delegation (Turkey) and that only one extra-European country (Persia) had a higher cost to bear than New Zealand. The matter is one in which New Zealand has a special interest. The Government delegation discussed it in Geneva with representatives of some distant countries, and with the Director of the International Labour Office. It will be the subject of a separate communication to the Government. I propose also to discuss with the Government the local question of New Zealand's method of representation at the Conference. Ratification of Conventions. Members of the organization (of which New Zealand is one) engaged under Article 405 of the Treaty of Versailles that within eighteen months of the adoption by the Conference of a Draft Convention or recommendation they would bring it before the competent authority (Parliament in the case of New Zealand) for the enactment of legislation or other action. The first session of the Conference was held in 1919. Since that date 62 Draft Conventions have been adopted. New Zealand has been represented at only four of the annual Conferences, and has ratified none of the Conventions. The Government expressed the view in 1931 that New Zealand legislation gave effect to the following Conventions :— Night Work (Women) Convention, 1919 (No. 4). Minimum Age (Agriculture) Convention, 1921 (No. 10). Right of Association (Agriculture) Convention, 1921 (No. 11). Workmen's Compensation (Occupational Diseases) Convention, 1925 (No. 18). No other action has been taken by New Zealand. On the other hand, Spain has ratified 33 of the 59 Conventions and recommended 10 others for ratification , Uruguay has ratified 30, Yugoslavia 21, and Bulgaria 30. Great Britain has ratified or taken other action in regard to thirty Conventions. The principal Government delegate at this year's Conference gave the assurance that New Zealand's obligations would be treated seriously, and that wherever they were applicable to New Zealand conditions Draft Conventions would be ratified and applied. The full list of Draft Conventions passed by the Conference since 1919 is as follows :— (Those printed in italics have not yet come into force.) Conventions. Ist Session (Washington, 1919)— 7th Session (Geneva, 1925)--(1) Hours of Work (Industry). (17) Workmen's Compensation (Accidents). (2) Unemployment. (18) Workmen's Compensation (Occupational (3) Childbirth. Diseases). (4) Night Work (Women). (19) Equality of Treatment (Accident Compen(s) Minimum Age (Industry), (revised, 1937). sation). (6) Night Work (Young Persons). (20) Night Work (Bakeries). White Phosphorus. 2nd Session (Genoa, 1920)— Bth Session (Geneva, 1926) — (7) Minimum Age (Sea). Inspection of Emigrants. (8) Unemployment Indemnity (Shipwreck). (9) Placing of Seamen. 9th Session (Geneva, 1926) — (22) Seamen's Articles of Agreement. 3rd Session (Geneva, 1921)- (23) Repatriation of Seamen. (10) Minimum Age (Agriculture). (11) Right of Association (Agriculture). (12) Workmen's Compensation (Agriculture). 10th Session (Geneva, 1927) — (13) White Lead (Painting). (24) Sickness Insurance (Industry, &c.). (14) Weekly Rest (Industry). (25) Sickness Insurance (Agriculture). (15) Minimum Age (Trimmers and Stokers). (16) Medical Examination of Young Persons 11th Session (Geneva, 1928) — (Sea). (26) Minimum Wage-fixing Machinery.

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