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Staff regulations of UNESCO were amended, by the Administrative Commission in a number of important ways. The Director-General was permitted greater flexibility in the appointment of staff, and the decision to appoint officers to permanent posts in UNESCO after an initial probationary period can be regarded as one of the most important made by the Commission. Special consideration was given to the organization of the Secretariat. The New Zealand delegation strongly supported a resolution by the United Kingdom requesting the Director-General to delegate greater authority to the heads of programme departments and to effect economies, both financially and in personnel. PROCEDURE COMMITTEE New Zealand was represented by Mr.' D. Cairns. The principal work of the Procedure Committee was as follows The revision of the rules of procedure as amended by the Editorial Committee set up by the second General Conference ; discussion of amendments to the Constitution; introduction of new rules on the presentation of credentials of delegations ; consideration of Spanish as a working language for UNESCO ; interpretation of the Constitution regarding the eligibility of a member of the Executive Board for re-election when he is not a member of a delegation. The rules of procedure presented by the Editorial Committee were adopted by the Conference with only minor' amendments, except as referred to below. In view of the difficulties encountered by many member States in presenting credentials complying with the Constitutional requirements (under which credentials must be signed by the head of the State or the Minister of Foreign Affairs), the Procedure Committee gave detailed consideration to a proposed amendment to the rules of procedure moved by the United Kingdom delegation. This amendment would have provided wider powers of signature. However, it was not possible to reach an agreement, and the question has been referred to the Director-General with a view to presenting a satisfactory solution to the fourth General Conference. v A long discussion was initiated by a motion from the Latin American States for the adoption of Spanish as a full " working " language of UNESCO. The principal and most forceful argument presented to the Conference was that fourteen States attending the Conference could not take full part in the discussions. A unanimous resolution was finally passed accepting Spanish as a " working" language of the General Conference and Commissions only where

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