A—9

Commission No. 4.—Legal Questions (1) Discussion of the rules adopted by the Interim Council for the settlement of differences arising among member States relating to international civil aviation matters. (2) Consideration of texts prepared by Comite International Technique d'Experts Juridiques Aeriens (CITEJA) and submitted at its request by the Council to the Assembly for discussion, final drafting, and signature. Commission No. s.—Administration and Finance (1) Approval of budgets and accounts. (2) Decision as to the proportions of the expenses of the Organization to be borne by member States. (3) Determination of the financial arrangements of the Organization. (4) Appointment of auditors. (5) Contributions of member States to the expenses of the Organization. (6) Consideration of policy relating to the disposition of funds withheld under the PIC AO system of contributions. (7) Consideration of the personnel policies adopted by the Interim Council in respect of the staffing of PIC AO. (8) Distribution to member States of documentation relating to the work in preparation an'd in progress and the work achieved. (9) Consideration of the needs of member States as regards PICAO publications. The limited size of the New Zealand delegation did not permit full attention to th& detailed work of the five Commissions. However, the fullest possible coverage, as considered appropriate, was given, as follows : Commission 1 : Mr. W. L. Middlemass. Elected Vice-Chairman of Subcommission No. 3 of Commission 1. Commission 2 and Commission 3 : Group Captain T. W. White. Declined ViceChairmanship of Commission 2 due to pressure of work in attending both of these Commissions. Commission 4 : Unable to be represented. Commission 5 : Hon. David Wilson. Chairman of Sub-commission 1 of' Commission 5, in addition to attending all meetings of the Executive Committee. GENERAL POLICY 5. Discussion on general policy centred mainly around the procedure to be followed in making the change from the Provisional Organization to the Permanent Organization,, including plans for the coming into force of the Convention. According to the arrangements concluded in Chicago, the Convention would come into force immediately after ratification by twenty-six member nations. In view of the fact that the United Kingdom and several other European countries, as well as New Zealand, were bound by the Paris Convention, there was considerable discussion as to the desirability of setting; a date in 1947 on which ratifications should be deposited simultaneously. This would,, in effect, more or less ensure that the United Kingdom and other countries similarly affected would be still able to take part in the permanent Organization and also be in a position to accept membership of the Council of the Permanent Organization. The United States was strongly against this procedure, and held the view that memberStates should ratify the Chicago Convention just as soon as they were able to do so,, in order that the Organization could become permanent at the earliest possible moment, regardless of the effect such procedure would have on those States still bound by the Paris Convention. After considerable discussion in Sub-commission and Commission it was finally resolved that member States be urged to ratify the Convention as soon as possible and that they be requested to deposit such ratification simultaneously on the Ist March, 1947.

4