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New Zealand was represented on the following Committees:— Committee on Application of Conventions: Mr. Webb (substitute, Mr. Most 011). Committee on Constitutional Questions: Mr. Moston (substitute, Mr. Kemp). . \ Committee on Employment: Mr. Webb (substitute, Mr. Perry). Committee on the Protection of Young Persons: Mr. Kemp. Committee on Dependent Territories: Mr. Moston (substitute, Mr. Kemp). MEMBERSHIP OF THE INTERNATIONAL LABOUR ORGANIZATION The Conference had before it an application for admission to the International Labour Organization from Iceland, also applications for readmission to the Organization from Guatemala and Italy. The Selection Committee examined the applications and satisfied itself that the applicant Governments have the international status necessary to enable them to discharge the obligations involved in membership of the International Labour Organization and submitted Draft Resolutions to the Conference for adoption. The Resolution was adopted admitting the countries as members with the same rights and obligations as other members, including the obligation to give two years' notice of any intention to withdraw from the Organization, and the obligation to respect the exclusively international character of the responsibilities of the Director and staff of the International Labour Office. In speaking to the Resolution to readmit Italy to membership, Mr. Thomas (Government delegate, United, States of America) stated: — The question before us is the readmission of Italy. Our aim is to unite peoples and not to divide them. The International Labour Conference has to-day the opportunity of taking leadership in bringing about a unity of peoples; it must take that opportunity. In this I speak for the Government of the United States .of America, but I am sure that I speak also what is in the minds and 1 -hearts of the American people. We do not condone the acts of the Fascist Government of Italy, the destruction of the free tradeunions, the withdrawal from this Organization, the events of June, 1940, ,or the opposition to the troops of the United States. We condone nothing; but the present Italian Government and the great masses of the Italian people have themselves repudiated these acts. As the Potsdam Declaration states, Italy has freed' herself from the Fascist regime and has made great progress towards the re-establishment of democratic government and institutions. The Italian people have respaded the! soil of their land, and in that renewed soil the ideals of the International Labour Organization will be more able to flourish. The Italian application for readmission to the Organization is in itself a sign of that growth. The Italian Government declares that it needs the help of' the International Labour Organization in order to solve the social problems! of the country on democratic lines. The American people are eager that such help should be given, and membership Jin the Organization will help Italy toward sound and democratic growth and Italy and the Italians' entry in this spirit will bring strength into the Organization. I urge the Conference to attopt the Resolution. I greet the representatives of the Italian Government, of the Italian employers, and of the Italian trade-unions. I ask them to take back to their countrymen the warm wishes of the people of the United States. That which I have said has been said not only on behalf of the Government delegation from the United States, but also on behalf of the employers' and workers' delegations. Objections were raised against the credentials of the workers' delegate and workers' adviser of the Argentine Republic. The Credentials Committee, having examined the credentials, and the objections raised, considered that the delegate and adviser were not appointed under those conditions of liberty provided for in the Constitution and consequently they could not be considered as representatives chosen without any compulsion by workers' organizations enjoying freedom of association as laid down by the' Constitution of the International Labour Organization. When the matter was brought before the Conference the delegates gave a unanimous vote against the admission of the workers' delegate and adviser.

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