A—s.

New Zealand's outstanding balance of the contribution for 1933 has been reduced since the Fourth Committee's report was printed. Payment is being made quarterly, but the position has become a little complicated by reason of the United States having abandoned the gold standard. This is a point on which I have communicated with you. It has nothing to do with the problem of arrears, which, strictly speaking, are contributions owing for periods to the end of the year 1932. COMMITTEE No. 5. Penal and Penitentiary Questions. The Report of the Fifth Committee to the Assembly (Document A. 44) gives the essentials necessary to an understanding of this question, which, in my opinion, should never have been brought before the Assembly, at any rate in the form in which it was originally presented, although there are certain aspects of the question, such, for instance, as the care and repatriation of foreign prisoners after discharge, which had an international bearing. The International Penal and Penitentiary Commission has been engaged for some time in drawing up a set of standard rules for the protection of prisoners. The work is now complete, and the new rules are embodied in Document A. 26, 1933, which was before the Fifth Committee, together with the Secretary-General's report (Document A. 23) on the activities of certain technical organizations which deal with penal and penitentiary questions. The attitude of the various Governments whose delegates thought it necessary to take part in the Fifth Committee's debate will be found in section 11 of the report to the Assembly, whilst the third section touches on procedure which the Assembly might find it advisable to follow. Fortunately, the procedure suggested does not include the creation of* a special League organization to deal with the question. The rules are to be transmitted to Governments of States members or non-members of the League with a request to state whether, in view of their existing or proposed laws and regulations, they are in a position to consider the approval and the practical application of the rules in whole or in part. The replies of the Governments will be communicated to the Fifteenth Assembly for further action. The question as to the necessity of an international convention on the treatment of prisoners was raised, but, if I may express a personal opinion, I would say that it is much to be hoped that attempts, of which this is an example, to regulate matters which are national in character will be brought to an end, and that the League will in future more and more concern itself only with those tasks provided for in the Covenant. The Fifth Committee's report includes other recommendations, but they are not of a character to cause any misgivings, and there was no reason for your delegate to intervene. It may be noted that the consideration of unessential matters taken up enthusiastically by other Assemblies in more prosperous times is not being pursued to the point originally contemplated, with a result which cannot but be gratifying to those supporters of the League who realize the value of international co-operation where such co-operation will make for peace and good-fellowship throughout the world. The relegation to a back shelf of these minor questions will, it is hoped, bring about a concentration on more important subjects. The Assembly accepted the Fifth Committee's report at its meeting on the 7th October. Traffic in Women and Children. You may recall that for some time the Traffic in Women and Children Committee of the League had been actively concerned with the preparation of a draft protocol for the suppression' in the traffic of women of full age. This is embodied in Document A. 24, 1933. In this connection I would refer you to the draft additional protocol to the International Convention for the Suppression of Traffic in Women and Children (C. 267, M. 122, 1931), and to a letter which you addressed to the SecretaryGeneral on the sth April, 1932. The principle enunciated in the concluding paragraph of your letter would seem to apply to article 1 of the draft protocol presented to the Fifth Committee this year. This article has been reproduced in a draft convention which was the work of a sub-committee specially appointed by the Fifth Committee (Document A. V/ 10). The Fifth Committee passed a resolution recommending the Assembly to convoke a diplomatic Conference to consider the text of the Convention during the session of the Assembly, and this resolution was endorsed by the Assembly on the 7th October (see Document A. 47). As I had not received any definite instructions from you, and in view of your letter above referred to, I did not deem it necessary to suggest to you that I take part in the Conference, especially as if, eventually, the Government finds itself able to accept the provisions of any convention drawn up by the Conference it will be easy for New Zealand to adhere. On the 11th October the Assembly considered the Report of the Fifth Committee on the Traffic in Women and Children, and to this Document (A. 50) I refer you for information in brief on the work done during the past year by the Traffic in Women and Children Committee. The Assembly passed the resolution with which it concludes. Protection of Children and Young People. Document A. 57 is a report by the Fifth Committee on the reorganization of the Advisory Commission for the Protection and Welfare of Children and Young People. This was approved by the Assembly at its meeting on the 11th October. It will be observed that the Child Welfare Committee is to submit to the Assembly, if possible next session, a plan of work which will enable it to continue to the fullest extent the task contemplated at the time of its foundation.

2—A. 5.

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