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Working Committees on matters to come before Conference (showing New Zealand's representatives on each) were :■ — Committee on Employment— Government: Hon. P. C. Webb (substitute, Mr. R. Perry). Workers: R. Stanley (substitute, Mr. P. M. Butler). Committee on the Protection of Children and Young Workers —- Government: Mr. R Kemp. Workers: Mr. R. Stanley (substitute, Mr. P. M. Butler). . Committee on Dependent Territories — Government: Mr. H. E. Moston (substitute, Mr. R. Kemp).. Employers: Mr. Val. Duff. Workers: Mr. P. M. Butler (substitute, Mr. R, Stanley). Committee on Application of Conventions — Government: Hon. P. C. Webb (substitute, Mr. Moston). Committee on Constitutional Questions — Government: Mr. H. E. Moston (substitute, Mr. R; Kemp). Workers: Mr. P. M. Butler. The Chairman of the Governing Body, Mr. Carter Goodrich, opened the Conference. M. Godart, on behalf of the Government of the French Republic, welcomed the delegates. M. Godart said:— At a time when so many institutions have collapsed and the courage of many lias failed, your Organization has taken the course of resistance from the first moment, and has, in spite, of the momentary triumph of force, continued its mission of peace with an invincible faith. You began by what was most urgent —namely, the international protection of labour —and now you are turning to its organization. In the coming days? the peoples of the world will have to shoulder very heavy tasks in order to find their balance again. It is difficult to foresee everything which will take place, but it is no illusion to believe that among the institutions which the United Nations will have to set up to safeguard the world collectively against aggression the International Labour Organization! must find the place to which its past, its vitality, and its promise for the future entitle it. M. Le Trocquer, the President of the Municipal Council of the City of Paris, welcoming the delegates on behalf of the citizens of Paris, said: — The City of Paris is proud and happy to welcome the International Labour Conference. Paris is again taking her rightful place —Paris, the city which was so magnificent in resistance and which is the symbol of all liberty—and she is very happy to welcome you as she did a short time ago the World Trade Union Conference. M. Le Trocquer also paid a tribute to the first Director of the International Labour Organization, the late Albert Thomas. M. Roussy, Rector of the University of Paris, also extended a welcome to the delegates, and said:— We have followed your sessions at New York and at Philadelphia, where the 1944: Declaration, which is imbued with s.o much human spirit, states that " all human beings, irrespective of race, creed, or sex, have the right to pursue both their material well-being and their spiritual development in conditions of freedom and dignity, of economic security, and equal opportunity." Prance, the home of professional and manual workers, has never subscribed to any other principle. Mr. Carter Goodrich in his opening speech outlined the duties and responsibilities imposed on delegates, and in the course of which he said: — Our first words must be of appreciation to those who have enabled us to hold our first post-war Conference so fittingly in the very birthplace of our Organization. We come to a liberated Continent,, to a* France once more proud and free, to a Paris) freed by its own efforts, to the halls of a great University dedicated to the freedom of the human spirit. We come to you with profound emotion, knowing the material difficulties which you have surmounted and realizing something of the hardships which your people still bear so well concealed behind the smiling aspect of this beautiful city. We are grateful that you have asked us to share with you this time of the rebirth of freedom.

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