A.—sc.

12th Session (Geneva, 1929)— 19th Session (Geneva, 1935)— (27) Marking of Weight (Packages transported (45) Underground Work (Women). /oa , ~ Vessels). (46) Hours of Work (Coal Mines), (revised). (28) Protection against Accidents (Dockers), (47) Forty-hour Week. ( ]929 )- (48) Maintenance of Migrants, Pension Rights. a ■ , n , '< ( 4 9) Reduction of Hours of Work (Glass-bottle 14th bession (Greneva, 1930) — Wnrlt?) (29) Forced Labour. (30) Hours of Work (Commerce and Offices). 20th Sessiou (Geneva> 1936) __ 15th Session (Geneva, 1931)— ifA eG J m j ln 9 of Indigenous Workers. (31) Hours of Work (Coal Mines). WorkT) * PubU ° 16th Session (Geneva, 1932)- (52) Eolida V s Pay(32) Protection against Accidents (Dockers) (revised, 1932). 21st Session (Geneva, 1936) — (33) Minimum Age (Non-industrial Employ- Officers' Competency Certificates. ment), (revised, 1937). ( S4 ) Holidays with Pay (Sea). (55) Shipowners' Liability (Sick and Injured 17th Session (Geneva, 1933) — „ _ Seamen). (34) Fee-charging Employment Agencies. Sickness Insurance (Sea). (35) Old-age Insurance (Industry, &c.). (^) Hours of Work and Manning (Sea). (36) Old-age Insurance (Agriculture). (37) Invalidity Insurance (Industry, &c.). 22nd Session (Geneva, 1936) (38) Invalidity Insurance (Agriculture). (58) Minimum Age (Sea). (39) Survivors' Insurance (Industry, &c.). (40) Survivors' Insurance (Agriculture). 23rd Session (Geneva, 1937)— IQ+V , a • in ( 59 ) Minimum Age for Admission of Children to 18th Session (Geneva 19 34)- _ Industrial Employment (revised 1937) 42 Wnrl! >O Wom en), (revised). (60)! Minimum Age for Admission of Children to ( ) Workmen s Compensation (Occupational Non-industrial Employment (revised 1937) rn ,61) of H °™ ° f w - k k (44) Unemployment Provision. (62 ) Safety in Building Industry. Which was " This year, as on previous occasions, the Committee discussed in some detail the nature of the obligations undertaken by States which ratify Conventions. The experts had pointed out that whereas such States are m fact under a strict legal obligation to secure that ratification is immediately followed by application the view is taken m some quarters that ratification indicates little more than a promise to implement the provisions of the Convention concerned at some future date The Committee thinks it important to place on record its opinion-from which no one of its numbers dissented-that there is no legal basis for delay on the part of a State in giving effect to a Convention St lap £ assooiateB i tself expressly and with full conviction with the point oTTew which the Committee of Experts set forth m the following terms : < That the International Labour Conventions must be regarded as imposing specific obligations, and not mere programmes future reform, on the contracting parties. The contrary view is in its opinion calculated to shake confidence m international agreements in general, and in particular to discourage collaboration in the work of the International Labour Organization on the part of countries which interpret their internationa obligations with the greatest strictness.' mitupieī tneir mternationaJ , I 1! tj is connection the attention of the Committee was drawn to the fact that the technical term Draft Convention, —i.e. a Convention adopted by the Conference but not yet ratified by the number of States specified m sometimes be the cause of misunderstanding. It is thought that Draft Conventions as distinct from Conventions proper, do no more than lay down a principle to tt°c£tetr e Tt C >f nd ° onCr , ete f r V in , nati ° nal le S isktion in a me ™ approbating to the Convention The Committee accordingly wishes to repeat the observation made by it last year that the ratification of an International Labour Convention is as solemn and as binding as the ratification of any other international treaty, and that ratification therefore imposes a definite obligation upon the ratifying member State to give effect to its terms completely and punctually » Article 26 : Constitution and Standing Orders of International Labour Organization. ~ , + 26 Q , 0f + tile Or g anizatioll > which reproduces Article 412 of the Treaty of Versailles sets out the fact that States members agreed to nominate within six months of the date on which the Treaty came into force, three persons of industrial experience, one of whom shall be a representative of iff 0116 ' r6P f f atat T f Tf}°J eea ' and one aP™ of standing, who shal together form a panel from which shall be drawn members of Commissions of inquiry 8 to thlLfS n ' Zealand Government delegation to this year's Conference was drawn to the fact that the Dominion had not carried out its obligation to make the necessary nominations The matter is accordingly being brought to the notice of the Government. Ihe Commissions of inquiry referred to are provided under Article 411 of the Treaty for the KTteWM te ™ mb "* is " ot tto —

29