A.—s

anxious not to reverse the procedure laid down in last year's resolution : indeed, so strong was the objection that the French delegate, in the hope of securing uniformity, intervened and proposed an amendment which, fortunately, gave satisfaction to the objectors, and a resolution was finally passed in the following terms " The Assembly,— " Having regard to the resolution voted by the Assembly on October 12th, 1932, on the question of the nationality of women ; " Having examined the suggestions made by the delegation of Chile in regard to this question which, at the request of the Chilian Government, had been placed on the agenda of the Assembly ; Having regard to the fact that a certain number of States give in their law a very wide application to the principle of the equality of the sexes ; " Expresses the hope that, before the next session of the Assembly, the Governments will have put the Secretary-General in a position to communicate to the Council the information as to the effect which they have found it possible to give to recommendation No. VI of the Codification Conference." This resolution was adopted, by the Assembly on the 11th October (see Document A. 48). You may perhaps wish to refer to the debate in the First Committee. It is to be found on pages 124-127 of the Journal (issue dated 6th October, 1933). You will observe that I made a brief statement based on the instructions I had received. COMMITTEE No. 2. Communications and Transit. Some of the work of the Communications and Transit Organization of the League, work which is specially provided for in the Covenant, is not of general interest to New Zealand, but the organization does and will continue to deal with matters with which New Zealand, by reason of her dependence on sea-borne trade, will be concerned. This year I propose to touch only briefly on one subject, and for information on the other subjects under review by the Second Committee I would refer you to that Committee's report to the Assembly (Document A. 41). Whilst the work of the Communications and Transit Organization was under discussion the question of public works was raised. You will recollect that a report was submitted to the Monetary and Economic Conference held in London by the League of Nations Committee of Inquiry on Questions relating to Public Works and National Technical Equipment of the Organization for Communications and Transit (see Document C. 377, M. 186). There seems to be a fairly general desire that some action should be taken, and a few speakers expressed the view that information on the execution of programmes of national public works of various countries would be of value to States members of the League, and the Second Committee passed the following resolution: " The Second Committee recommends that the Committee which the Bureau of the London Economic Conference, on th£ proposal of the Economic Commission of that Conference, decided to set up to study the problem of public works and other means for reducing unemployment should 'be appointed and convened as soon as possible with the agenda fixed by the London Economic Conference itself." The delegate of Great Britain, whilst not opposed to the resolution, abstained from voting, on the ground, amongst others, that the President of the London Economic Conference was his own Prime Minister. Whether the London Economic Conference will ever resume its labours is a question which it is quite impossible to answer, and, even if the Committee mentioned in the resolution were set up and were able to produce a report of any value, I am wondering whether any recommendation of an international loan would be implemented in view of the disinclination of the average investor to put his money into anything but a trustee security. The Swedish delegate on the Second Committee, who was himself Rapporteur on the question, when giving an account of the programme of public works recently initiated in his country, was careful to stress the point that the capital necessary had been found at home. I have no doubt that much can be learned by the exchange of information, and there can be no objection whatever to Geneva acting as a clearing-house in regard to matters which have some international bearing, but I imagine that the experience of the League in connection with certain reconstruction loans fioated under its auspices has not been such as to promote confidence amongst those with money to lend. The Second Committee's report was adopted by the Assembly at its meeting on the 7th October. Health Organization. For an account of recent work by the Health Organization I refer you to those sections of the report on the work of the League (Documents A. 6 and A. 6 (a)) bearing on health, to the admirable report of the Organization itself (Document A. 13), which, however, had not been considered by the Health Committee, and to the Second Committee's report to the Assembly (Document A. 38). Many countries feel that they are not obtaining full value for the money they contribute to the League, and this is undoubtedly true of certain countries far removed from Europe. But it is also said, and with truth, that some countries do not make full use of the League. I cannot help thinking that there must be at least one field of activity covered by the League in which countries to which the criticisms mentioned above apply would find scope for their needs. Whilst hesitating to suggest that New Zealand has no very definite grievance, I would point out that the Health Organization would, I feel sure, be willing to consider any proposal for study or research emanating from New Zealand which would be of value from a public point of view. Ido not anticipate that the Health

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