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grant of air-transport rights must be conditional upon the' establishment of an international body with real powers and effective machinery to control rates, capacity, and competitive practices.- These views, which were 'supported also by the United Kingdom and Australian Governments, had been advocated at the International Conference on Civil Aviation held at Chicago, when it was found that the New Zealand proposal for international ownership and operation of trunk services on international routes was not generally acceptable. New Zealand was represented also at the first meeting of the South Pacific Air Transport Council held in Canberra in December, 1946. This body is a subsidiary of the Commonwealth Air Transport Council and consists of those British Commonwealth Governments concerned with air-transport services in the South Pacific and across the Pacific to North America. Canada has not, as yet, however, joined as a member, although at the Canberra meeting she was represented by an observer. The discussions at this meeting led to recommendations to the New Zealand and other partner Governments as to the future method of control and operation of the trans-Tasman and trans-Pacific air services, and regarding the provision, maintenance, and operation of facilities required in the South Pacific for the regional services and the trans-Pacific services from Australia and New Zealand to North America. The, Hon. F. Jones, Minister in Charge of Civil Aviation, led the New Zealand delegation at the South Pacific Air Transport Council meeting. New Zealand is also represented at the Assembly meeting in Montreal of the International Civil Aviation Organization, the permanent body that has replaced the interim Organization established at Chicago. New Zealand has a vital interest in the development of civil aviation, both within the South Pacific region with which we are immediately concerned, across the Pacific to North America and, generally, in all world air routes. The proposal for international ownership and operation of trunk services on international routes made by New Zealand at the Chicago Conference in 1944 and seconded by Australia, was supported then by very few countries. It has, however, received encouraging support since from the United Kingdom, and will, it is hoped, later receive such support from other countries as will permit of the development of an international organization to operate all the trunk services on the international routes throughout the world. This method of operation is considered by the Government to be necessary not only in the interests of security, but of orderly world economic development. It is considered that only by this means can it be ensured that international civil aviation will be so organized as to secure its development in the best interests of mankind. The Government has indicated that New Zealand will maintain its advocacy of this policy, but will, at the same time, co-operate in any measures for the useful development of civial aviation in the interests of the peoples of the world. Its policy also is to maintain close co-operation with other partner Governments of the British Commonwealth both in resolving the day-to-day problems inherent in air operations in the Pacific and in promoting also the expansion of British civil air services. 4. United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization The establishment of a permanent United Nations agency in the field of education and culture was first mooted by the Conference' of Allied Ministers of Education (consisting originally of the Ministers of Education of the Governments in exile of certain occupied European countries), which met periodically at London during the war years from October, 1942, onwards. The primary aim of the Organization was then conceived to be restoration of educational, scientific, and cultural facilities in countries devastated by the war. As it developed, however, the Organization came to be regarded as having, in addition, a more permanent function : "To contribute to peace and security by promoting collaboration among the nations through education, science, and culture in order to further universal respect for justice, for the rule of law, and for the human rights and . fundamental freedoms which are affirmed to the peoples of the world ... by the Charter of the United Nations."

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