A—7a

DATE OF NEXT CONFERENCE Among a number of other decisions concerning the Organization's programme and policies, the Governing Body decided that the next session of the Conference would be held at Geneva, Switzerland, beginning on the Bth June, 1949. PROCEDURE OF CONFERENCE AND REPRESENTATION ON COMMITTEES After the opening formalities, the Conference proceeded to a debate on the DirectorGeneral's report, and concurrently with the debate in plenary session, Committees of the Conference considered the other items on the Agenda. The reports by such Committees were subsequently submitted to the Conference in plenary session for consideration and final decision. Committees were set up to deal with each of the items on the agenda, New Zealand being represented on the following Committees:— Freedom of Association and Industrial Relations— Mr. J. Thorn (Chairman). Mr. H. F. Butland (employers). Mr. H. G. Kilpatrick (workers). Employment Service Organization and Vocational Guidance— Mr. H. Parsonage. Wages— Mr. C. P. Smith. Mr. S. I. McKenzie (employers). Mr. J. H. Thompson (workers). Conventions Concerning Night Work of Women and Young Persons— Miss R. T. Skyring. Financial and Budgetary Questions (Government Representatives only)— Mr. H. Parsonage. DISCUSSION ON DIRECTOR-GENERAL'S REPORT In the introduction to his report, the Director-General briefly reviewed the international political situation. In the first section, under the heading of " Economic Background," he dealt with the progress made towards " full employment and the raising of standards of living " and with the action being taken to overcome the main obstacles to further progress in this direction. A second section dealt with trends in social policy, and in particular with the general employment situation, vocational training, migration, and social security. The report also contained a survey of the activities of the International Labour Office during the past year. The discussion on the Director-General's report commenced on the 24th June and continued, subject to interruptions whilst other business was dealt with in plenary session, until the 6th July, 1948, when the Director-General replied. Eighty-seven speakers took part in the debate. Among the speakers were two members of the New Zealand delegation, Mr. J. Thorn, Government delegate, and Mr. H. G. Kilpatrick, workers' delegate. A notable contribution to the debate was the speech made by Mr. G. Isaacs, British Minister of Labour and National Service. The text of the New Zealand Government delegate's speech is appended to this report (Appendix No. 1). FINANCIAL AND BUDGETARY QUESTIONS The Finance Committee of Government representatives considered and reported to the Conference on the audited accounts for the year 1947 and the Budget estimated for 1949, together with certain proposals of the Governing Body regarding financial questions.

6