A.—7.

arrest of the wpwa/rd movement of the human spirit which began with the Renaissance and the destruction of all its achievements, intellectual, material, and moral, could beget a world in which an International Labour Organization would find no plaice, Whatever the fears and.■ forebodings of those who hold their own faith weakly, there is no reason to fear that the world, having known the joys of freedom and enlightenment, is destined to relapse into the brutish obscurity of another Dark Age." Some disappointment may be felt over the decisions of the Conference this year, as in the case of one only out of the six major subjects under discussion was a, final decision reached—viz., Statistics of Hours and Wages in the Principal Mining and ManufacturingIndustries, including Building and Construction, and in Agriculture. In the case of the other subjects the Conference decided to submit its conclusions to the various Governments for a report. Next year the Conference will be asked to adopt Draft Conventions or Recommendations on each of the subjects in the light of the further information obtained. A shadow was cast over the Conference proceedings on account of the resignation of Mr. Harold Butler, the Director-General of the International Labour _ Organization. Mr. Butler has proved a worthy successor to Mr. Albert Thomas, and his eminent qualities and faithfulness to the great work of the Organization was referred to by the President of the Conference and others who have been closely associated with him during the six years that he has directed the work of the Organization. Mr. J. Gilbert Winant, who will succeed Mr. Butler, bids fair to follow the high standard laid down by his predecessors. Mr. Winant was appointed as Third Assistant Director when the United States joined the Organization in 1934. Formerly a schoolteacher, he afterwards commanded an American air squadron during the Great War. He played some part in the discovery and development of the Texas oil-wells, and before taking up his position at Geneva was twice elected Governor of the State of New Hampshire. He was also first Chairman of the Social Security Board created under President Roosevelt's administration. His appointment is significant of the position now occupied by the United States in the International Labour Organization, and it can hardly fail to strengthen the American contact with international relations. REPRESENTATION. Fifty countries were represented, representation in sixteen cases being by Government delegates only. The total composition of the Conference was 157 (90 Government delegates, 34 employers' delegates, and 33 workers' delegates). In addition, there were 257 advisers (119 Government, 60 employers, and 78 workers). Details of the representation are recorded in a table attached hereto. Thus the countries members of the International Labour Organization not represented at the Conference were Dominican Republic, Italy, Liberia, Nicaragua, and Paraguay. Commenting on the representation at the Conference, which, despite the disturbed state of the world, was almost as large as the record attendance in 1937, the Chairman of the Governing Body used this as proof of the strength of the Organization. ELECTION OF PRESIDENT AND VICE-PRESIDENTS. The opening of the Conferences devolves upon the Chairman of the Governing Body of the International Labour Office, Mr. F. W. Leggett, C.8., Principal Assistant Secretary of the British Ministry of Labour (this under the Standing Orders). After reviewing problems associated with the items on the agenda, Mr. Leggett referred in general terms to the work of the International Labour Conference, which, he said, because it represented Governments, employers, and work people, was " the greatest advance yet made in the machinery for world human collaboration." Mr. Leggett's outlook is fairly indicated by the following quotations from his speech:— " The world needs a new urge on the road which leads to fellowship and peace. This must be found in the sustained patience of those who are determined to understand and. help, even when their efforts seem to meet with only partial success. ■ . ■ The outstanding problem of the world is poverty, and it is because poverty is so widespread over the world, and not because of any lack of good will that there is the illusion of failure in regard to some of the policies which have brought this Organization into prominence. It is not real faihire when the object aimed at is too high in the circumstances in which so many countries find themselves. We should rather have the courage to face the situation and deal, with those fundamental though unpleasant facts which are holding progress back. Applying the test of the better fed, better clothed and housed, better protected against the misfortunes of life, and whose dignity as human beings is safeguarded, there can be no doubt that this Organization has been a great success. . . . The Organization will make its greatest contribution towards the peaceful achievement of justice in social affairs arid realize its greatest value only to the extent that it is able to create and'■ preserve neighbourly human relationships between nations and persons. . . . With more kindliness the world can be transformed, and our children will have a better chance not only of living, but also of living as civilized beings in a friendly world."

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