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SECTION 17.—INTERNATIONAL LABOUR ORGANIZATION (1) Twenty-eighth (Maritime) Session or the Conference A report on the Twenty-eighth (Maritime) Session of the International Labour Conference has already been presented as parliamentary paper A-7a. The session was held in Seattle during June, 1946, thirty-two countries being represented. The following delegation, which was the first to represent this country at a Maritime Session, was sent by New Zealand : Delegates representing the Government — Mr. G. M. F. Jackson, Chief Clerk, Department of Labour. Mr. D. N. Lawrence, Inspector of Seamen, Marine Department. Delegate representing the employers— Captain S. Holm, President of the New Zealand Shipowner's Federation. The agenda was as follows — (i) Director's report. (ii) Social Security for Seamen. (iii) Crew Accommodation on Board Ship. (iv) Food Catering on Board Ship. (v) Entry, Training, and Promotion of Seafarers. (vi) Holidays with Pay for Seafarers. (vii) Continuous Employment for Seafarers. (viii) Recognition of Seafarers' Organizations. (ix) Wages ; Hours of Work on Board Ship ; Manning. The Conference adopted, in all, nine conventions and four recommendations. The subject-matter of these texts covers virtually every phase of a seafarer's life —his training for and entry to sea service, his accommodation, food and health on board ships, his certification as an able seaman, his wages, hours and holidays, his social security while at work, and his pension on retirement. A notable feature was the adoption of a convention concerning wages, hours of work, and manning whereby, for the first time in history, an international minimum wage was laid down for an industry. The amount was fixed at £l6 (sterling) or $64 (U.S.) a month. This figure is below that at present operating on New Zealand ships, but sets a legislative aim before some carrying countries. The conventions and recommendations adopted at the Conference were as follows : Convention (No. 68) concerning food and catering for crews on board ship. Convention (No. 69) concerning the certification *of ships' cooks. Convention (No. 70) concerning social security for seafarers. Recommendation (No. 75) concerning agreements relating to the social security of seafarers. Recommendation (No. 76) concerning medical care for seafarers' dependants. Convention (No. 71) concerning seafarers' pensions. Convention (No. 72) concerning vacation holidays with pay for seafarers. Convention (No. 73) concerning the medical examination of seafarers. Convention (No. 74) concerning the certification of able seamen. Recommendation (No. 77) concerning the organization of training for sea service. Convention (No. 75) concerning crew accommodation on board ship. Recommendation (No. 78) concerning the provision to crews by ship-owners of bedding, mess utensils, and other articles. Convention (No. 76) concerning wages, hours of work on board ship, and manning.

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