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enforced.) In the Netherlands a Commission was appointed to investigate the question of substituting zinc paint for white-lead paint, and reported in 1909 most emphatically for substitution (no information is given as to the result). In England committees have been set up on several occasions during recent years ; the last (1923) heard many witnesses on the practicability of prohibiting the use of lead for painting. It was generally conceded, that for interior work lead paint could be dispensed with, and some of the master painters thought zinc compound could also be substituted for exterior work. On the whole, however, the committee decided to compromise between the alternatives of (a) total prohibition, and (b) enforcement of precautions within the trade by recommending restriction of the amount of lead in paint, as follows : a law to be introduced prohibiting the importation, sale, or use of any paint material which contains more than 5 per cent, of its dry weight of a soluble lead compound, the law not to come into force for a period of three years from the publishing of the report. It was further recommended that, failing prohibition of the use of lead in painting, regulations should be made with a view to dust-prevention and dust-removal." It might be mentioned that the Queensland Government adopted regulations in 1922 providing (1) that no paint containing more than 5 per cent, of soluble lead shall be used or put within 4 ft. of the floor or ground on the outside of any residence, hall, school, or other building to which children under the age of fourteen years have access, or on any veranda, railing, gate, or fence ; (2) that no surface of paint which contains more than 5 per cent, of soluble lead shall be rubbed down in a dry condition. These regulations were to come into operation, on the Ist August, 1923, but were rescinded, except in so far as the regulations apply to any veranda, railing, gate, or fence. This latter restriction was retained and brought into force on account of an opinion expressed by local medical practitioners that lead in paint was responsible for certain cases of infantile paralysis which had come under notice. It is interesting to note that none of the English-speaking countries have as yet ratified the Convention adopted by the International Labour Conference at Geneva, in November, 1921, prohibiting the use of white-lead or sulphate of lead in the internal painting of buildings. A Bill has now, however, been introduced by the British Government to this effect. No cases of lead poisoning have been notified in New Zealand during the year, and only one case has been notified since the law regarding notification came into force in January, 1921. It is probable, however, that cases have occurred without being notified, and there is also the probability of cases being missed through incorrect diagnosis. That a danger of lead poisoning amongst painters does exist must, it is thought, be admitted, but there is insufficient evidence of lead poisoning to warrant the more drastic method of prohibition of lead in paints. It may be desirable, however, to amend or extend the Factories Act, giving power to make regulations prescribing the conditions under which white-lead shall be used, not only in factories where lead is ground, but also on all jobs where paintingwork is done. These would include the wearing of overalls, provision of washing-facilities, restrictions as to dry rubbing-down, and also safeguards to protect the occupants of houses, especially children, from risk of lead poisoning. LABOUR MATTERS IN OTHER COUNTRIES. International Labour Office. The report of the activities of the 1922 International Labour Conference, held in October and November, arrived too late for remarks to be made thereon in the annual report of this Department for 1923. In view, however, of the fact that the Conference of the previous year had decided that the time had come to call a halt in the drafting of labour legislation, owing to the unsatisfactory economic conditions prevailing in the chief nations of industrial importance, and the consequent unwillingness of these and other nations to adopt and ratify the draft convention and recommendations of the Conferences of 1919, 1920, and 1921, only one recommendation was passed in 1923. The thirty-four conventions and recommendations passed at the three Conferences mentioned proposed changes of a more or less drastic nature, and the feeling had. become strikingly manifested in Europe generally that it would be of greater importance to urge upon the reluctant nations the eminent desirability of taking legislative action in conformity with the proposals of the International Labour Office than to continue to pass unavailing resolutions embodying suggestions which called for radical alterations in the fundamental principles on which the labour laws of many countries were based. In 1922 the Conference concerned itself with the following matters : — (1.) Revision of Part XIII of the Treaty of Versailles and the corresponding parts of the other Treaties of Peace — (a) With a view to the reform of the constitution of the governing body of the International Labour Office ; (6) with a view to modification as regards the periodicity of the sessions of the Conference. (2.) Communication to the International Labour Office of statistical and other information regarding emigration and immigration, and the repatriation and transport of emigrants. A recommendation regarding the communication of information concerning immigration was adopted, and all available information on this and other subjects has been furnished to the International Labour Office when requested.