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many and difficult Economic and Social problems with which the world is confronted " was carried by 33 votes (including New Zealand) to 3. During the discussion on the Council's report considerable time was given to a request made by the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU) : {a) that they be granted the right to submit items intended for inclusion in the provisional agenda of the Economic and Social Council, and (6) that they be allowed to make oral statements at any time before the Council on all matters of interest to the Federation. The delegations of the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, the United States, and others opposed any extension of privileges, and, in general, supported the New Zealand contention that the agreement freely concluded on 21 June, 1946, between the Economic and Social Council and the WFTU had not been given sufficient trial and that no steps should be taken to amend the agreement before the next session of the General Assembly, when New Zealand would support an extension of the privileges accorded the WFTU if such was shown by experience to be necessary. The agreement referred to provided that " the WFTU be placed in category (a) of non-governmental organizations," and this entitled the organization to send observers to all public meetings of the Council, to have its written communications issued as official documents of the Council, and to consult, on the invitation of the Council, with a Standing Committee on Arrangements for Consultation with Nongovernmental Organizations appointed for the purpose. On the recommendation of the Standing Committee, the WFTU, as a category (a) organization—may appear before the Council. It was pointed out that under these arrangements there are three possible methods by which the WFTU may recommend items for inclusion in the provisional agenda—through a member of the United Nations ; by a recommendation to the President of the Council, or to the Secretary-General; or by a request to the Council's Standing Committee. The WFTU requests were supported by the delegations of the Soviet Union, Yugoslavia, Poland, India, and others, and eventually, by 22 votes to 15, the first request (a) was approved, but the second request (b) was rejected by 24 votes to 14. At a later stage a United States proposal was adopted which granted similar rights to all organizations in category (a), the present members of which are the American Federation of Labour, the International Chambers of Commerce, and the International Co-operative Alliance. This proposal was opposed by New Zealand on the grounds that it would unduly weaken the authority of the WFTU and its influence in the Councils of the United Nations. The Argentine delegation moved that the arrangements made with WFTU and other organizations in category (a) be extended to the Labour Federation of the American Republics, but this was defeated by 27 votes to 9, New Zealand speaking