A.—s

possessions in the East because of their adherence to a system of monoply, but these Governments take the view that to prohibit the system of monoply would not be a cure for opium-smoking, since legitimate imports of opium might be replaced by smuggled imports, and prohibition might even lead to the introduction of yet more dangerous drugs. The Fifth Committee's Report (Document A. 64), which was accepted by the Assembly on the 14th October, gives a good account of the past year's work in connection with opium. Traffic in Women and Children. I refer you to pages 80-84 of Document A. 6, to Document C. 504, M. 245, which gives the results of an inquiry into the position of the central authorities established in virtue of Article I of the International Agreement of 1904, and to Document C. 503, M. 244, dealing with the question of the abolition of the age-limit provided in the conventions of 1910 and 1921. Under Article 23 of the Covenant the League is entrusted " with the general supervision over the execution of agreements with regard to the traffic in women and children." This supervision is exercised through a Standing Committee, which has accomplished good work. Two of its present main tasks are the abolition of the age-limit and the repression of the activities of souteneurs. It is, however, not out of place to remark here that even the present conventions cannot become completely effective until they are universally applied, and many members of the League have not yet signed them, while five which have signed have not ratified. It is, of course, open to the various national legislatures to legislate, and, indeed, many have in respect of the age-limit, as the document bearing particularly on the subject shows. Miss Forchhammer, the Danish delegate on the committee, who has been associated with the Assembly, I think, from its first session, acted as Rapporteur, and her report (Document A. 55) received the approval of the Assembly on the 11th October. Protection of Children. Much of the future happiness of the race depends on the proper care and education of the child, and a good deal of the work of the Child Welfare Committee is beyond praise. Information regarding a popular movement in one country can be brought to the notice of other countries through the medium of the League, and with the happiest results. For instance, the extension of the Youths' Hostel Movement, which has been such a success in Germany and is now making headway in Great Britain and other countries, must make for the happiness of members of the younger generation, who, with the knowledge that they are able to obtain a night's lodging at a reasonable charge, can plan tours of their own in other countries and enjoy the beauties of Nature. In the course of the debate of the Fifth Committee on the work of the Child Welfare Committee (see pages 82 and 83 of Document A. 6 and Document C. 395, M. 221), Dr. Osborne, the Australian delegate on the Fifth Committee, deplored that whilst the replacement by machinery of skilled hand labour had resulted in the increased employment of young girls recently at school, boys of the same age were unable to obtain employment. Some members of the Fifth Committee complained that the budget of the child-welfare section was small compared with that of other sections. The complaint does not merit serious investigation. One task well performed and leading to satisfactory results is surely preferable to the dissipation of money, especially on inquiries, which are not only not essential, but, by reason of their character, are outside the scope of the League. To the documents mentioned above and others (C. 265, M. 153 and C. 975, M. 540) I refer you for information on the work of the Child Welfare Committee, whilst the Rapporteur's report is Document A. 48, and this was considered by the Assembly at its meeting on the 11th October. COMMITTEE No. 6. Admission of Iraq to Membership of the League. Iraq was admitted a member of the League on the 3rd October by the unanimous vote of the Assembly, the Sixth Committee having found that the country fulfilled all the requirements for admission (Document A. 42). The history of Iraq's emancipation from foreign rule, the experiment of the mandatory system, followed by membership of the League, is too recent to need comment here. All concerned rejoice that so much has been accomplished in so short a time (see also Document A. 17). Mandates. The item " Mandates " was, as usual, inscribed on the agenda in the early days of the Assembly on the proposal of the Norwegian delegation, and the item was discussed by the Sixth Committee on the Ist October. The discussion was brief, and, so far as New Zealand is concerned, was limited to two points—the late trouble in Samoa (on which I was able to reassure the Committee, having regard to the information at my disposal), and the question of the Permanent Mandates Commission reverting to two sessions a year. The mandatory system, as we know it, was created by the covenant, and the Permanent Mandates Commission is one of the organs of the League provided in the covenant. I therefore felt that I should be acting in accordance with the spirit of your instructions by supporting a reversion to two sessions a year should the budgetary situation warrant it (Document A. 7). The report to the Assembly is Document A. 53, and the resolution with which it concludes was passed on the 10th October.

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