A.—s

(2) To invite tie Allocations Committee to distribute twenty units for the year 1935 in reduction of the contributions of those States which, in its opinion, had the strongest claim to relief. (3) In carrying out No. (2), however, the Allocations Committee should " keep in contact with the Special Committee on Arrears of Contributions." The New Zealand delegate succeeded in getting this clause amended to read, — " The Allocation Committee in carrying out this task may establish contact with the Special Committee on Arrears of Contributions with a view to obtaining any additional information required." The above proposals, as amended, were ultimately embodied in the Fourth Committee's report to the Assembly (Document A. 60). The report, which also contains the following motion, was adopted by the Assembly on the 27th September :— " The Assembly,— " Having noted the British proposal made during the discussion of the report of the Allocation Committee and the observations to which it gave rise, " Requests the Governments of States members of the League to study the question ; " And decides that this proposal, and all proposals made by the Governments which are communicated in good time, concerning the method of contribution of members of the League, shall be placed on the agenda of the Sixteenth Assembly. " The Assembly decides that the Allocation Committee, in agreement with the special Committee on Arrears of Contributions, shall consider forthwith the request put forward by the Chinese representative on the Fourth Committee of the Assembly and submit concrete proposals concerning it to the Sixteenth Assembly." FIFTH COMMITTEE. Penal and Penitentiary Questions. The paper before the Fifth Committee was Document A. 14, which is the report of the SecretaryGeneral to the Assembly on penal and penitentiary questions. In 1933 the Assembly examined the revised standard minimum rules for the treatment of prisoners and decided " to instruct the Secretary-General to refer the revised rules to Governments of States members or non-members of the League, requesting them 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 these rules in whole or in part." Traffic in Women and Children, The work, based on international conventions, accomplished by the Traffic in Women and Children Committee, one of the organs of the League, at its session in April this year, has been very ably summarized in the report of Miss Horsburgh, delegate of the United Kingdom, who acted as Rapporteur for the Fifth Committee. To this I refer you. The problem of the punishment of the souteneur is troublesome and requires close international co-operation. The question of the abolition of licensed houses has occupied the attention of the Traffic in Women and Children's Committee for many years, and at length differences of opinion have given place to complete unanimity for abolition. For information on all aspects of the Committee's work I would refer you to Document C. 149, M. 62, and also the the publication entitled " Abolition of Licensed Houses." The Fifth Committee's report and the draft resolution attached thereto (Document A. 38) were adopted by the Assembly on the 26th September. Child Welfare. Document No. C. 149, M. 62, contains reports on the work done during the preceding year by the Traffic in Women and Children Committee, by the Child Welfare Committee, and by the two Committees in joint session, and some pages of the Secretary-General's report are also devoted to the work. The two items, " Traffic in Women and Children " and " Child Welfare," are always considered separately by the Fifth Committee, but they are, of course, allied, and are included within the group known as " Social Questions." A number of valuable reports on the effects of economic depression and unemployment upon children and young people in various countries have been published. Amongst other matters, the Child Welfare Committee devoted itself to the consideration of questions relating to young people who are unemployed. The Fifth Committee's report is Document A. 52, and the Assembly accepted it on the 27th September. A section of the report is devoted to the development of the informative role of the Secretariat. There was a long discussion in Committee and great importance was attached to the matter by a number of speakers. The Committee proposed that an additional sum of 30,000 francs should be inserted in the estimates for carrying out this work of development, and a request to this effect was made to the Fourth Committee. Ultimately, the Fourth Committee agreed to vote 16,000 francs, on the understanding that the credit should only be utilized if the Secretary-General was unable to fill a new post of Member of Section by the transfer of an official already in the Secretariat.

8