A.—6

On the recommendation of the sub-committee the following resolution was adopted by the Conference : — " The Conference approves the report of the Oversea Settlement Sub-Committee. The Conference is of opinion that the problem of oversea settlement, which is that of a redistribution of the white population of the Empire in the best interests of the whole British Commonwealth, is one of paramount importance, especially as between Great Britain on the one hand and Canada, Australia, and New Zealand on the other. The Conference notes with satisfaction that the desired redistribution of population is being accelerated by the policy which has been consistently pursued since its acceptance by the resolution of the Conference of Prime Ministers in 1921.* It endorses the view expressed at that Conference that the policy should be a permanent one. It recognizes that it would be impracticable, owing to financial, economic, and political considerations, to promote mass movements of population, but it is satisfied that, by continuous adherence to the present policy, it should be possible steadily to increase the flow of population to those parts o? the British Commonwealth where it is most needed for development and general security, and where it will find the greatest opportunities." The report of the sub-committee has been published."]" XVIII. WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION. A special sub-committee was appointed, under the chairmanship of the Secretary of State for Home Affairs, to consider the present position in regard to the resolutions of the Imperial Economic Conference of 1923 on the subject of workmen's compensation, J and also the question of reciprocal arrangements between the different parts of the British Empire for the administration of money awarded as compensation. Non-resident Workmen. The sub-committee came to the conclusion that with certain minor exceptions the laws of the various parts of the Empire now conform generally to the principle of Resolution 1 of the 1923 Conference —namely, that no British subject who is permanently incapacitated, and no dependant of a British subject who has been killed, by accident due to his employment in any part of the Empire should be excluded from any benefit to which he would otherwise be entitled under the workmen's compensation law in force there, on the ground of removal to, or residence in, another part of the Empire. The Conference took note of the position. Seamen. Resolution II of the 1923 Conference related to compensation in respect of accidents to British sailors occurring outside the territorial waters of the part of the Empire in which their ship is registered. The sub-committee found that such compensation was provided for in the laws of most of the Dominions and India as well as of Great Britain, but called attention to certain exceptions. Aliens. The position in regard to the treatment of aliens was reconsidered in the light of the International Draft Convention and Recommendation adopted by the International Labour Conference at Geneva in 1925§. The conclusion was reached that the adoption by all parts of the Empire of a common policy based on this draft convention would conduce to the removal of disabilities still imposed under the workmen's compensation laws of certain foreign countries on British subjects residing in those countries and on their dependants. The Conference accordingly adopted the following resolution on this subject:— " The Conference, taking note of Resolution 111 of the Imperial Economic Conference, 1923, on the subject of workmen's compensation and the Draft Convention on Equality of Treatment for National and Foreign Workers as regards

* For this resolution see A.-4, 1921-22, p. 9. f See Appendix X. J For these resolutions see A.-6a, 1924, p. 12. § See Appendix XI.

28