A—7

The text for the amendment of the Constitution of the International Labour Organization submitted and adopted by the Conference was concerned, with the several immediate matters in order to enable the International Labour Organization to continue to function as a separate organization pending the final adoption, of the Constitution and pending the final clarification of the relationships which will be the outcome of the negotiations between the Governing Body of the International Labour Organization, its "Working Committee on Constitutional Questions, and the United Nations Organization. These articles of amendment contained in the text dealt also with the following points:— (1) Making it possible for the International Labour Organization to make budgetary and financial arrangements with the United Nations : (2) Making provision for the unfinancial members: (3) Providing for amendments! to the Constitution as already set out in the Resolution mentioned above: (4) The Instrument of Amendment affecting Article 36 will come into force in accordance with the existing provisions of Article 36: (5) On the coming into force of the amended Article 36 as set out above,. the Director is to notify all members of the International Labour Organization, also the Secretary-General' of the United Nations and the States which have signed the Charter of the United Nations. A resolution of the Conference drew attention to the members of the Organization of the necessity and importance of prompt ratification of the Instrument of Amendment which I have summarized above. The necessary Instrument of Amendment was ratified by the New Zealand Government in May this year. These preliminary steps are the first to be taken towards the amendment of the Constitution; should the position in the interim be clarified with the United Nations Organization, further steps will probably be taken at the next session of the International Labour Organization Conference in 1946. In any event further amendments of importance are scheduled for consideration at that Session. STANDARD of social policy in dependent territories Another matter of importance discussed by the Conference was the standard of social conditions in dependent territories. In view of the global matters arising from the 7 war, it was to be expected that a question of this kind would assume major proportions. Indeed, at the preceding Conference, held in Philadelphia in 1944, the subject was discussed in a preliminary manner, resulting in certain declarations being adopted by Resolution. Between the conclusion of the Conference at Philadelphia in 1944 and the opening of the Conference in Paris in 1945 hostilities had ceased, and in the interim the United Nations Charter had been drawn up at San Francisco. It is worthy to note that the principles laid down at Philadelphia were later incorporated in another form in the United Nations Charter. Subsequently at Paris in November, 1945, these principles were further endorsed and a series of Articles adopted unanimously with the intention of carrying into practice, in particular instances as they applied, the principles adopted at Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Paris,

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