A.—7.

Committee approved of a proposal that an independent and efficient inspectorate was the best means of ensuring the complete and regular enforcement of international labour legislation, and consequently of the ratified Conventions. It hoped that the adoption of an international Convention on these lines would be possible. Further, the Committee expressed its satisfaction with the increasing application of international labour legislation in the colonies, possessions, protectorates, and territories under mandate. When the report was submitted to Conference the spokesman for the Committee said that, while Conventions ratified were in some cases not applied as they should be, some improvement could be noted. It was particularly noticeable in the countries of Latin America, To avoid gaps in the applications of Conventions—of the 3,000 possible ratifications, only 814 had actually been registered—he urged emphasis on the responsibilities of Governments not only in the ratification of Conventions, but in preparatory work with respect to them. After some discussion the report was adopted. TECHNICAL AND VOCATIONAL EDUCATION AND APPRENTICESHIP. The Committee appointed to consider this subject had the assistance of a representative of the International Bureau of Technical Education. The considerable interest that was evidenced in its deliberations was indicative of a realization on the part of those present of the importance of the subject, Developments of this subject had become widespread, as indicated by the reports received from the Governments, and it was generally conceded that whatever may be the economic conditions prevailing in the various countries the question of vocational training of skilled workers is of immediate importance. Draft matter and a report prepared by the International Labour Office formed the basis of discussion, and a comparison of the report with the conclusions reached will indicate that the Committee's examination was a thorough one. The general discussion in committee disclosed that employers and workers, as well as Governments, were greatly interested at the present time in the question of vocational education. Several speakers emphasized in particular the necessity for co-operation between the various bodies interested in vocational education for the purpose of co-ordinating their diverse efforts and of formidating a policy which would be in accordance with the interests of the worker as well as the requirements of industry and of the national economy. Another point to which some of the speakers drew attention, and supported by the New Zealand delegate, was the desirability of avoiding premature specialization in the case of young workers, and of scope for greater adaptation on the part of skilled workers who belonged to particular industries or were engaged in technical processes which were constantly changing. Finally, the importance of supplementary school education was pointed out, as well as the need for providing workers admitted into employment before they had received any kind of training with facilities for vocational education. On behalf of the employers it was urged that the realities of the situation should not be lost sight of, and that the risk of undermining the results of private initiative by a too strict supervision on the part of the State should be avoided. It was considered by many of the speakers that the problem of apprenticeship was the principal one that the Conference was called upon to consider. Whilst, however, apprenticeship was at the root of the matter, it had to be considered as part of the general question of technical education, the whole object of which was to prepare for apprenticeship, to increase its effectiveness, and to complete it or to provide a substitute for it. Some of the speakers called attention to the importance of vocational guidance as a means of rendering vocational training effective, and regretted that the problem was not included in the scope of the question on the agenda. The Committee submitted a Draft Resolution to the Conference requesting the Governing Body to consider the desirability of placing the question of vocational guidance on the agenda of a very early session of the Conference, this being adopted. Over fifty amendments to the draft proposals were moved in Committee. Most of these were for the better working of the proposals. A final draft report was agreed to and submitted to the Conference. On the report being discussed in Conference the Preamble and Parts I to 111 of the Draft Conclusions were adopted seriatim. On Part IV a show of hands was demanded, and on the vote being taken 51 were in favour and 22 against. As the total votes cast were less than the quorum, 78 (the total number of delegates at the Conference being 157), the President decided to take a record vote, and Part IV was adopted. Part V was adopted. REGULATION OF CONTRACTS OF EMPLOYMENT OF INDIGENOUS WORKERS. This Committee held ten meetings. It took as the basis of discussion a list of suggested points drawn up> by the International Labour Organization for the Consultation of Governments, also recommendations by a Committee of experts on Native labour. In general terms the Committee had to decide on a report affecting the working and living conditions, hours of work, rest-days and holidays, wages, workers' compensation for accidents and occupational diseases, and medical assistance for " indigenous workers" who are, " primarily the workers employed in tropical and sub-tropical territories by agricultural and

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