Mr. MEIGHEN:

I do not think the

point of my hon. friend has any great force. Why is it these conventions are only coming down now for ratification? They are three and four years old.

Mr. MURDOCK:

These matters were not dealt with before this government came into office.

Mr. MEIGHEN:

The convention was

only entered into at Geneva in November, 1921.

Mr. MURDOCK:

The subject matter of

this .particular convention was dealt with at the 1920 session of the International Labour Conference.

Mr. MEIGHEN:

In 1921, it says.

Mr. MURDOCK:

It was originally dealt with in 1920 but was finally adopted in 1921.

Mr. MEIGHEN:

I was just wondering

what reason there was for the delay. Is there any reason except that other countries did not follow the matter up?

Mr. MURDOCK:

One reason is that for

five weeks hon. gentlemen opposite were greatly concerned about the honour and dignity of parliament.

Mr. MEIGHEN:

I think there is a better explanation, although I really do not know what it is. Is it because we were waiting for other countries to take action? That might be a very good reason for the delay.

Mr. MURDOCK:

No, that is not the reason. As a matter of fact these conventions do not affect Canada to any great extent. Canada, I think, without very much discussion adheres to the principles that are laid down in all these four resolutions. The object is to give ratification to this convention as soon as possible and thus comply with the desire of the League of Nations and the International Labour Conference. The matter was not reached until the present session of parliament! that is the only reason for the delay.

Resolution reported, read the second time and concurred in. Mr. Murdock thereupon moved for leave to introduce Bill No. 215, to amend the Canada Shipping Act, to give effect to certain Draft Conventions adopted by a General Conference of the International Labour Organization of the League of Nations.

Motion agreed to and bill read the first time.

Mr. IRVINE:

I draw the minister's attention to the sentence "other than vessels on which only members of the same family are employed." It would seem to me that a family of children growing up on a vessel are just as much in need of protection as other children. What is the reason for the exemption? Is this following the wording adopted by the International Labour Conference?

Mr. MURDOCK:

I do not know that I

get my hon. friend's question. My understanding is that this exception is so as not to interfere with a family who are handling a sailing vessel, as a fishing boat, that might naturally be regarded as their home or regular place of residence. There is no intention of requiring compulsory medical examination within the meaning of this draft Convention under such conditions.

Mr. IRVINE:

The minister's explanation

does not exactly meet the point. A boy who may be at sea on his father's boat may be in great need of medical attention.

Mr. MURDOCK:

A child might be in

need of medical attention on land or anywhere else, but the presumption is that if he is under his father's care he is receiving all the attention possible consistent with the conditions. This is only to prevent the hiring and the use of children other than one's own without proper medical examination, as I understand it.

Mr. ROSS (Kingston):

Is there any suggestion as to where and by whom this medical examination will be made?

Mr. MURDOCK:

The convention is short

and, perhaps, if I read the document it will afford hon. members the information they want:

Draft Convention Concerning the Compulsory Medical Examination of Children and Young Persons Employed at Sea.

Article 1.-For the purpose of this convention, the term "vessel" includes all ships and boats, of any nature whatsoever, engaged in maritime navigation, whether publicly or privately owned; it excludes ships of war.

Article 2.-The employment of any child or young person under eighteen years of age on any vessel, other than vessels upon which only members of the same family are employed, shall be conditional on the production of a medical certificate attesting fitness for such work, signed by a doctor who shall be approved by the competent authority.

Article 3.-The continued employment at sea of any such child or young person shall be subject to the repetition of such medical examination at intervals of not more than one year, and the production, after each such examination, of a further medical certificate

attesting fitness for such work. Should medical certificate expire in the course of the voyage it shall remain in force until the end of said voyage.

Article 4. In urgent cases, the competent authority may allow a young person below the age of eighteen years to embark without having undergone the examination provided for in Articles 2 and 3 of this convention, always provided that such an examination shall be undergone at the first port at which the vessel calls.

Article 5. Each member of the international labour organization which ratifies this convention engages to apply it to its colonies, possessions and protectorates, in accordance with the provisions of articles 421 of the Treaty of Versailles and of the corresponding articles of the other treaties of peace.

Mr. LEADER:

Is it the intention of the

government to hold more conventions in Geneva in the future?

Mr. MURDOCK:

My hon. friend refers to international labour conferences?