DESPATCHES FROM THE GOVERNOR OF NEW ZEALAND TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES.

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1913 Session I, A-01

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1913. NEW ZEALAND.

DESPATCHES FROM THE GOVERNOR OF NEW ZEALAND TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES.

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

INDEX.

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No. of Series. Date. Subject. Page. 1 ■> o 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 II 12 1912. April 25 May 2 .,' 2 9 » 16 „ 22 ., 23 „ 23 „ 23 June 6 „ -o 6 Noxious insects .. .. . . • • • ■ • • • • • • Titanic disaster—Messages of sympathy Proposals by Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain Titanic disaster—Resolutions of sympathy .. 1 Opium traffic Co-operation with labour exchanges in United Kingdom Licenses for working of wireless telegraphy on board ships .International Agricultural Institute at Rome Alliance of certain New Zealand regiments with regiments of British Army Noxious insects Request of Lyttelton Harbour Board to be allowed to fly Blue Ensign His Majesty as Colonel-in-Chief 3rd (Auckland) Mounted Rifles and of 1st (Canterbury) Regiment of Infantry 2nd (Wellington West Coast) Mounted Rifles designated as " Queen Alexandra's 2nd Mounted Rifles" Alteration of form of declaration of ownership Protection Industrial Property Conference, Washington Sympathy loss " Titanic " .. Dominions Royal Commission—Withdrawal of Sir J. G. Ward Imperial scheme of wireless telegraphy Animals exported from. Great Britain—Quarantine and testing station Lead in manufacture earthenware and china Indo-Chinese opium traffic Governor's Speech, Second Session, Eighteenth Parliament Pormation of new Government under Hon. Mr. Massey.. Mr. Thomas Mackenzie for title of " Honourable " Legislative Council appointments Wireless telegraphy on board ships Enforcement of judgments and orders of Courts Workmen's compensation legislation in South Australia "King George's Sailors'Institute" for institute, Lyttelton .. Rifle regiments carrying colours Fees and dues on vessels using Panama Canal Wireless telegraphy on board ships Life-saving appliances on merchant ships I.S.O.—Messrs! D. Robertson and J. S. Strauchon Dominions Royal Commission —Views of Ministers Opium and other Drugs Convention Commercial Expert in London for Trade and Customs Department New Public Seal .. ■ .. ... 3 t> 3 4 5 5 6 6 6 7 7 7 13 6 8 1.4 15 16 17 18 19 20 21. 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 7 „ 13 „ 13 „ 14 „ 14 July 4 5 „ il „ 11 „ 11 „ 11 „ 12 „ 26 „ 31 Aug. 9 „ 9 ,, 9 „ 22 „ 23 „ 30 Sept. 5 „ 6 „ 13 „ 26 Oct. 1 8 8 9 9 9 10 10 10 11 11 12 12 12 12 13 14 14 14 15 15 15 15 16 16 17

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INDEX — continued.

No. of Series. Date. Subject. ; Page. 1912. Oct. 10 ! Army Special Reserve —Emigration to oversea dominions . . .. .. ... 17 „ 11 Carrying of colours by regiments of New Zealand Forces . . . . .. 18 „ 24 1 Life-saving appliances—Draft rules .. .. > .. . . .. . . 19 „ 25 \ Old Public Seal, Return of .. .. .. '.. .. .. .. ..19 ,, 31 ' Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain—Interchange of certificates .. .. ..19 Nov. 7 '■■ International Radio-telegraphic Convention .. .. .. .. .. .. 20 „ 14 Incorrect term " cattle plague" .. .. .. .. .. .. ..20 „ 21 i Copies of Acts, and synopsis, &c, Session 1912 .. . . .. . . 21 Dec. 5 Assumption of administration of Government by Sir Robert Stout .. .. .. 28 ,, 20 Assumption of administration of Government by the Earl of Liverpool .. . . ... 28 ,, 20 Terms on which Australian and New Zealand frozen meats will be admitted into United States ! 28 „ 27 Noxious insect-pests .. .. .. .. .. . . .. .. ' 30 1913. Jan. 16 Health insurance in oversea dominions .. .. .. . . .. .. 30 „ 17 Customs Expert in London .. .. .. .. . . . . 31 Feb. 6 White-slave traffic . . . . .. .. .. . . . . . . .. j 31 ,. 7 Judgments delivered by Privy Council—Dissenting opinions . . . . . . 31 ,, 13 Dominions Royal Commission .. .. . . .. . . . . 32 ,, 21 Antarctic disaster—Sympathy . . .. .. .. .. .. 32 „ 21 Prevention of importation of foreign-made gold and silver articles bearing fraudulent 33 imitations of British assay-marks Mar. 5 Paris International Congress of Physical Education .. .. .. ... .. 33 „ 18 Appointment of Mr. J. G. H. Moore as honorary New Zealand Representative in Argentina.. j 33 „ 18 Educational monographs .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. : 34 April 3 Uniformity in accident-compensation laws .. .. .. . . .. .. 34 ,, 9 National Insurance Act—Soldiers serving in oversea dominions . ■. .. .. .. '- 34 „ 10 Taranaki Rifles—Colours .. .. .. .. . . .. .. 35 „ 23 Paris International Sanitary Convention. .. .. .. .. .. 35 „ 24 Importation of live-stock from Great Britain .. .. .. . . .. .. j 35 „ 24 Examination in Great Britain of masters and mates, &c. .. .. .. .. j 36 „ 24 Imperial groups of exhibits, San Francisco Exhibition .. .. .. ... .. j 36 39 40 H 42 43 U 45 46 17 48 49 50 51 52 53 51 55 56 57 58 59 60 ill 02 63 64 66 66 67

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No. 1. New Zealand, No. 57. Sir, — Government House, Wellington, 25th April, 1912. With reference to your despatch, Miscellaneous, of the 6th September, 1911, forwarding papers relating to a scheme for the more extended investigation of the noxious insects in different parts of the Empire, I have the honour to inform you that, after careful consideration, my Ministers have come to the conclusion that it is not desirable that New Zealand should join in the proposed scheme. I have, &c, ISLINGTON, The Right Hon. Lewis V. Harcourt, P.C., &c, Governor. Secretary of State for the Colonies.

No. 2. New Zealand, No. 58. Sir, — Government House, Auckland, 2nd May, 1912. With reference to my telegram of the Ist May, I have the honour to transmit to you the accompanying copies of messages of sympathy in connection with the " Titanic " disaster which I have received from the citizens of Gisborne, and the members of the Roskill Adult School, Auckland. I have, &c, ISLINGTON, The Right Hon. Lewis V. Harcourt, P.C., &c. Governor. Secretary of State for the Colonies.

Enclosure. Sir, — " Nestleton," Leslie Avenue, Morningside, Auckland, 23rd April, 1912. At a meeting of the Roskill Adult School held on Sunday morning last the following resolution was passed, which 1 was asked to send along to you with the request that you would kindly transmit the same to proper quarters: "That the members of this, the Roskill Adult School, Auckland, New Zealand, express trreir profound regret at the untimely wreck of the ship ' Titanic,' resulting in the loss of so many human lives, and their deep and heartfelt sympathy with the relatives of the victims." Thanking you in anticipation, I have, &c, Francis Wm. Dance, Secretary. His Excellency Lord Islington, Governor of New Zealand.

No. 3. New Zealand, No. 59. Sir, — Government House, Auckland, 2nd May, 1912. With reference to your despatch, No. 383, of the 16th November, 1911, forwarding copies of proposals made by the Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain for the establishment of reciprocal relations between that society and similar societies in other parts of the Empire, I have the honour to transmit to you the accompanying copy of a letter from the Pharmacy Board of New Ze?land, addressed to the Minister of Internal Affairs, embodying the views of the Board with regard to the proposals referred to. T have, &c, ISLINGTON, The Right Hon. Lewis V. Harcourt, P. 0., &c, Governor. Secretary of State for the Colonies. Enclosure. Sir, — Pharmacy Board of New Zealand, Wellington, 12th April, 1912. Your letter of the 24th January last, stating that the Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain, being desirous of establishing reciprocal relationship between that society and similar societies in other parts of the Empire, had transmitted through the Secretary of State for the Colonies proposals made by that society in the matter, a printed copy of which you enclosed, which letter was duly acknowledged by me on receipt, was referred to a full meeting of the members of this Board which

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opened in conference on 26th ultimo, when, after due consideration given to the matter, it was decided to reply to the effect following : — Terms Nos. 1 and 2 suggested in the printed memorandum enclosed with your communication present no difficulties, and were not objected to. Term No. 3 requires that every applicant should produce evidence of having served, subsequent to his passing the preliminary examination, at least three years' in translating and dispensing prescriptions in the shop of a registered chemist. In New Zealand the law defining the qualifications required of applicants for registration as pharmaceutical chemists by examination contained in the Pharmacy Act, 1908, requires three years' service under articles of apprenticeship, but it is not necessary that the general-knowledge examination should precede the commencement of service under the articles. Chemists registered by examination in New Zealand would, however, in most cases be able to show that they had obtained three years' experience in prescription-work subsequent to their registration, and thus would be in a position to show compliance with this term. Paragraph 4 specifies that every applicant should produce evidence of sufficient systematic study before entry for the qualifying examination. The language of this condition is regarded as vague and indefinite, and it should be explained what it is actually intended to convey. Most entries for examination are preceded by a more or less systematic effort at study on the part of the candidates, but in many cases there might have been no compliance with a well-defined and systematic curriculum. In New Zealand there is no compulsory curriculum at the present time applicable to pharmaceutical students, and the same position is thought to apply in Great Britain. The Board expresses the opinion that until the establishment of a compulsory curriculum in Great Britain evidence of compliance with a curriculum in New Zealand should not be required. Term 5 was not objected to. Term 6 relates to fees payable by applicants, which would amount to £12 12s. The registration fee payable in this Dominion under similar circumstances would be £1 10s. This Board is of the opinion that a fee of £12 12s. for registration under a reciprocity agreement in the cases of men who have already paid examination fees would be excessive. To terms 7, 8, and 9 the Board offered no objection. I have, &c, Chas. W. Nielsen, Registrar. The Hon. the Minister of Internal Affairs, Government Buildings, Wellington, New Zealand.

No. 4. New Zealand, No. 60. Sir, —■ Government House, 9th May, 1912. With reference to my despatch, No. 58, of the 2nd May, I have the honour to transmit to you the accompanying copies of resolutions of sympathy in connection with the recent " Titanic " disaster, which have been forwarded to me by my Prime Minister. . I have, &c, ISLINGTON, The Right Hon. Lewis V. Harcourt, P.C., &c, Governor. Secretary of State for the Colonies. Enclosures. (Telegram.) Hon. Minister of Marine, Wellington. ' Auckland, 25th April. Harbour Board at meeting on Tuesday passed the following resolution : " That this Board expresses its deep sense of the calamity sustained by the foundering of the steamer ' Titanic,' and offers its condolences to those concerned." Please have resolution forwarded to proper quarter. H. B. Burnett, Secretary. Sir, — Miramar Borough Council, Wellington, 19th April, 1912. I have the honour, by direction of the Miramar Borough Council, to inform you that the following resolution was unanimously carried at a meeting of the Council held yesterday, the 18th instant: " That the Council expresses its deep sorrow and sympathy with those who suffered through the loss of the steamship ' Titanic,' and its appreciation of the manner in which the best traditions of the sea were upheld by those on board the vessel." I have, &c, The Hon. the Prime Minister, Wellington. R. E. Bennett, Town Clerk. Sir,— Borough Office, Town Hall, New Plymouth, 19th April, 1912. I have the honour to inform you of the following resolution passed by the New Plymouth Borough Council last night: " That the New Plymouth Borough Council expresses its sincere sympathy with those bereaved by the appalling calamity caused by the wreck of the ' Titanic,' and also places,on record its deep admiration of the manner in which officers and men upheld the best traditions of the British race in giving the women and children the first chance of rescue. That a copy of the above resolution be forwarded to the Prime Minister, for transmission to the proper authorities." The Hon. the Prime Minister, Wellington. E. T. Bellringer, Town Clerk.

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(Telegram.) The Hon. the Premier, Wellington. 22nd April, 1912. " The Cook County Council expresses, on behalf of the country residents of Poverty Bay, its grief at the terrible disaster to the ' Titanic,' its heartfelt sympathy with those who have lost relatives, and its deep admiration of the behaviour of those who, to save the women and children, went down with the ship." ' Howard Kenway, Chairman, Gisborne. (Telegram.) Prime Minister, Wellington. 20th April, 1912. Kindly transmit to proper quarters that the Stratford Borough Council expresses its profound and deep sympathy with the relations of the passengers and crew in the appalling disaster caused by the wreck of the " Titanic " ; also its admiration of the manner in which the officers and men upheld the best traditions of the sea. J. Masters, Mayor. (Telegram.) The Hon. T. Mackenzie, Wellington. 20th April, 1912. Westport Chamber of Commerce deeply sympathize with relatives and friends of those lost in the sad wreck of the " Titanic." A. A. Wilson. Sir, — Mayor's Office, Palmerston North, I9th April, 1912. At a meeting of citizens of this town held last evening the following resolution was proposed, and carried in silence, viz. : " That this meeting expresses its profound and deepest sympathy with the relatives of the passengers and crew of the ' Titanic ' in the sad and deplorable disaster resulting in the loss of so many lives, and also its admiration of the gallantry of the officers and men in sacrificing their lives to save women and children.'' I was further directed by the meeting to forward same on to you. I have, &c, The Hon. the Prime Minister, Wellington. -J. A. Nash, Mayor.

No. 5. New Zealand, No. 63. Sir, — Government House, Auckland, 16th May, 1912. • 1 have the honour to transmit to you the accompanying copy of a memorandum which I have received from my Prime Minister, together with five letters from the Executive of the New Zealand Association for the Severance of the Connection of the British Empire with the Opium Traffic, addressed to the persons mentioned, forwarding copies of a resolution urging the suppression of the opium traffic in China. T hive, &c, ISLINGTON, The Right Hon. Lewis V r . Harcourt, P.C., &c, Governor. Secretary of State for the Colonies. Enclosure. Prime Minister's Office, Wellington, 7th May, 1912. Memorandum for His Excellency the Governor. The Prime Minister presents his compliments to His Excellency the Governor, and begs to enclose, for transmission to the Secretary of State for the Colonies, five letters from the Executive of the New Zealand Association for the Severance of the Connection of the British Empire with the Opium Traffic, addressed as under, forwarding copies of a resolution urging the suppression of the opium traffic in China :— His Grace the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury. The Prime Minister of Great Britain and Ireland. The Secretary of State for India. The Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. The Leader of the Opposition. G. W. Russell, For Prime Minister.

No. 6. New Zealand, No. 65. Sir, — Government House, Auckland, 22nd May, 1912. With reference to your despatch, No. 44, of the 7th February, on the question of the co-operation of my Government with the labour exchanges in the

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United Kingdom in connection with the notification of vacancies and applications for'employment, I have the honour to transmit to you the accompanying copy of a memorandum, dated 29th April, received by me on the 22nd May from my Prime Minister, stating that the matter will be carefully considered by my Government, and that should it be deemed advisable to take advantage of the opportunity afforded by the British labour exchanges, steps will be taken on the lines suggested in the correspondence which accompanied your despatch. I have, &c, "> ISLINGTON, The Right Hon. Lewis V. Harcourt, P.C., &c, Governor. Secretary of State for the Colonies.

No. 7. New Zealand, No. 70. S IR> _ Government House, Auckland, 23rd May, 1912. With reference to Colonial Office despatch, No. 46, of the year 1908, in which it was requested that the Secretary of State for the Colonies be supplied with copies, for the information of the Postmaster-General, of any licenses issued in this Dominion for the working of wireless telegraphy on board ships, 1 have the honour to transmit to you, by request of my Prime Minister, the accompanying copy, in duplicate, of a license,' dated the 22nd April, 1912, for the installation and working of apparatus for wireless telegraphy on board the undermentioned three steamers of the Union Steamship Company of New Zealand (Limited), namely : " Maitai," " Tofua," " Warrimoo." I have, &c, ISLINGTON, The Right Hon. Lewis V. Harcourt, P.C., &c, Governor. Secretary of State for the Colonies.

No. 8. New Zealand, No. 71. g TR Government House, Auckland, 23rd May, 1912. With reference to your despatch, No. 369, of the 20th October, 1.911, forwarding copy of a letter from the British Representative on the Permanent Committee of the International Agricultural Institute at Rome, together with certain publications of the Institute, I have the honour to transmit to you the accompanying copy of a memorandum which I have received from my Prime Minister on the subject." T haye > &c -> J ISLINGTON, The Right Hon. Lewis V. Harcourt, P.C., &c, Governor. Secretary of State for the Colonies.

Enclosure. Prime Minister's Office, Wellington, loth May. 1912. Memorandum for His Excellency the Governor. The Prime Minister presents his compliments to His Excellency the Governor, and begs to inform him, in regard to Government House record 11/988, that the resolutions of the 1911 General Assembly of the International Institute of Argiculture forwarded through the Secretary of State for the Colonies have been translated, aud the contents noted. The resolutions deal with a wide range of subjects, some of which merely require noting, and others of which involve a great deal of inquiry. _ The various matters requiring action will be attended to, and, as requested by the Institute, and following the usual practice, replies will be sent direct to the Institute. Thos. Mackenzie, r Prime Minister.

No. 9. New Zealand, No. 72. g IR Government House, Auckland, 23rd May, 1912. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch, No. 68, of the 28th February, on the subject of the alliance of certain New Zealand regiments with regiments of the British Army.

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2. In answer to the second and last paragraphs of your despatch, my Prime Minister informs me that, in accordance with your request, changes in organization or designation of New Zealand regiments will be reported as soon as they are made, and that a copy of the New Zealand Army List will be forwarded to you as well as to the War Office. I have, &c, ISLINGTON, The Right Hon. Lewis V. Harcourt, P.C., &c, Governor. Secretary of State for the Colonies.

No. 10. New Zealand, No. 77. SiR, — Government House, Wellington, 6th June, 1912. With reference to your despatch, No. 91, of the 26th March, and to my telegram of the 6th June, on the subject of the proposed scheme for extended investigation of the noxious insects in differentjparts of the Empire, I have the honour to transmit to you the accompanying copy of ;t memorandum I have received from my Prime Minister, stating that the Government of New Zealand is prepared to participate in the scheme subject to certain conditions set forth in the memorandum referred to. I have, &c, ISLINGTON, The Right Hon. Lewis V. Harcourt, P.C., &c, Governor. Secretary of State for the Colonies. Enclosure. Prime Minister's Office, Wellington, sth June, 1912. Memorandum for His Excellency the Governor. The Prime Minister presents his compliments to His Excellency the Governor, and begs to inform him, with reference to the attached Government House record 12/320, dealing with the invitation for New Zealand to participate in a scheme of Imperial co-ordination in the investigation of insect-pests, that the matter has been further considered, and it has now been decided that the Dominion will participate in the scheme if it can be successfully inaugurated on a satisfactory basis, and in this connection is prepared to contribute up to £100 per annum towards the expenses of the undertaking. It is understood that the Dominion has the right to withdraw from the scheme at any time should it be so desired, on giving reasonable notice. In regard to the proposed conference of representatives of the several dominions interested, in order to draw up a workable plan of operations for the Imperial organization, New Zealand will not be represented at the International Congress of Entomology to be held at Oxford, and will therefore not have an expert representative available to attend the subsequent conference. The High Commissioner for New Zealand is being asked, however, to .arrange for some one to attend the conference on behalf of the Dominion. Thos. Mackenzie, Prime Minister.

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No. 11. New Zealand, No. 78. Sir, — Government House, Wellington, 6th June, 1912. I have the honour to transmit to you the enclosed copy of a memorandum which I have received from my Prime Minister, relative to the request of the Lyttelton Harbour Board to be allowed to fly on its vessel the Blue Ensign with the Board's badge (L.H.8.), with cross anchors and the letters " N.Z." in the centre, and four stars at the end of the flag. 2. I enclose herewith a small sketch, showing the design desired in the centre of the flag. I have, &c, ISLINGTON, The Right Hon. Lewis V. Harcourt P.C., &c, Governor. Secretary of State for the Colonies.

No. 12. . New Zealand, No. 79. Sir, — Government House, Wellington, 6th June, 1912. With reference to your despatch, No. 76, of the Bth March, I have the honour to transmit to you the accompanying copy of a memorandum which I have

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received from my Prime Minister, requesting mc to convey to His Majesty the King, through you, the thanks of the Government and people of New Zealand for the high honour His Majesty has been so graciously pleased to confer by becoming Colonel-in-Chief of the 3rd (Auckland) Mounted Rifles and of the Ist (Canterbury) Regiment of Infantry. I have, &c, ISLINGTON, The Right Hon. Lewis V. Harcourt, P.C., &c, Governor. Secretary of State for the Colonies.

No. 13. New Zealand, No. 80. Sir, — Government House, Wellington, 6th June, 1912. With reference to your despatch, No. 75, of the Bth March, I have the honour' to transmit to you the accompanying copy of a memorandum from my Prime Minister, requesting mc to convey, through you, to His Majesty the King, the thanks of the Government and people of New Zealand for His Majesty's gracious approval of the 2nd (Wellington West Coast) Mounted Rifles being designated as " Queen Alexandra's 2nd Mounted Rifles." I have, &c, ISLINGTON, The Right Hon. Lewis V. Harcourt, P.C., &c, Governor. Secretary of State for the Colonies.

No. 14. New Zealand, No. 82. Sir, — Government House, Wellington, 7th June, 1912. With reference to your despatch, No. 90, of the 25th March, on the subject of the alteration, of the form of declaration of ownership required by section 9 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894, to be made on application for registry of a vessel owned by a body corporate, I have the honour to inform you, in reply to the second paragraph of your despatch, that my Ministers report as follows : — " The Imperial forms which are prescribed for use in the case of the declaration of ownership of ships are used in New Zealand, and the new form will therefore be also used in the Dominion. A supply will be procured from England through the High Commissioner." I have, &c, ISLINGTON, The Right Hon. Lewis V. Harcourt, P.C., &c, Governor. Secretary of State for the Colonies.

No. 15. New Zealand No. 89. Sir, — Government House, Wellington, 13th June, 1912. With reference to your despatch, No. 55, of the 16th February, relative to the Conference held at Washington for the revision of the International Convention for the protection of industrial property and the arrangement for the prevention of false indications of origin on goods, I have the honour to state, by request of my Prime Minister, that New Zealand wishes to adhere to the revised Convention, with the reservations made by the British delegates, as well as to the arrangement of Madrid, as revised at Washington in June of last year. 2. With regard to the concluding paragraph of the despatch, the Prime Minister recommends that His Majesty's Government be advised that separate representation at the Conferences is not at present desired by this country. I have, &c, ISLINGTON, The Right Hon. Lewis V. Harcourt, P.C., &c, Governor. Secretary of State for the Colonies.

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No. 16. New Zealand, No. 91. Sir, — Government House, Wellington, 13th June, 1912. I have the honour to transmit to you the accompanying copies of further resolutions, forwarded to me by my Prime Minister, from various public bodies in New Zealand, expressing sympathy in connection with the loss of the " Titanic." I have, &c, ISLINGTON, The Right Hon. Lewis V. Harcourt, P.C., &c, Governor. Secretary of State for the Colonies.

No. 17. New Zealand, No. 93. Sir, — Government House, Wellington, 14th June, 1912. With reference to my telegram of the Bth June, intimating the desire of Sir Joseph G. Ward to withdraw from, the position of Representative of New Zealand on the Royal Commission on Empire Trade, I have the honour to transmit to you the accompanying copy of a memorandum from my Prime Minister, together with a copy of the letter addressed to him by Sir Joseph Ward, giving the last-named gentleman's reasons for desiring to withdraw from the Commission. I have, &c, ISLINGTON, The Right Hon. Lewis V. Harcourt, P.C., &c, Governor. Secretary of State for the Colonies. Enclosures. Prime Minister's Office, Wellington, Bth June, 1912. Memorandum for His Excellency the Governor. The Prime Minister presents his compliments to His Excellency, and begs to inform the Governor that he has to-day received the accompanying letter from the Right Hon. Sir Joseph Ward, tendering his resignation from the position of New Zealand Representative on the Imperial Trade Commission. Thos. Mackenzie.

Sir,— Wellington, Bth June, 1912. I have the honour to intimate to you that I have, after careful consideration, decided to withdraw from the position of New Zealand Representative on the Imperial Trade Commission, and I shall be glad if you will so inform His Excellency the Governor, for transmission to the Secretary of State for the Colonies. The Commission having decided to sit first in England and next in Canada, which, upon the whole, seems to me to be wise, does, however, prevent me accepting the position without the immediate resignation of my seat as a member of Parliament. This I cannot see my way to do. When accepting the position I understood the Commission was to sit for some time in Australia and New Zealand first, and this would have permitted me for that time to have performed what I deem to be my paramount duty to my constituents. I have, &c, ' The Hon. the Prime Minister, Wellington. J. G. Ward.

No 18. New Zealand, No. 94. Sir, — Government House, Wellington, 14th June, 1912. With reference to your despatch, No. 83, of the 21st March, on the subject of the proposed Imperial scheme of wireless telegraphy, I have the honour to transmit to you the accompanying copy of a memorandum which I have received from my Prime Minister, stating that New Zealand does not at present desire to become a party to the Imperial agreement, as it is itself erecting a long-distance station for a system other than the Marconi system.; but it desires that the agreement shall provide that in the event of New Zealand wishing to erect a station of the Marconi system within the next ten years no higher charge shall be made by the Marconi Company than that made on the Imperial Government for other stations. I have, &c, ISLINGTON, The Right Hon. Lewis V. Harcourt, P.C., &c, Governor. Secretary of State for the Colonies.

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No. 19. New Zealand, No. 100. Sir, — Government House, Wellington, 4th July, 1912. With reference to your despatch, No. 89, of the 23rd March, covering copy of a letter from the Board of Agriculture on the subject of the provision of a quarantine and testing station, at which animals intended for exportation from Great Britain might be tested before shipment for tuberculosis and other diseases by the veterinary officers of the Board, I have the honour to transmit to you the accompanying copy of a memorandum which I have received from my Prime Minister giving the views of my Government on the subject. I have, &c, ISLINGTON, The Right Hon. Lewis V. Harcourt, P.C., &c, Governor. Secretary of State for the Colonies.

A.-2, 1913, No. 16.

Enclosure. Prime Minister's Office, Wellington, 2nd July, 1912. Memorandum for His Excellency the Governor. The Prime Minister presents his compliments to His Excellency the Governor, and begs to inform him, in regard to the attached Government House record No. 318/12, that the proposal of the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries, London, to establish a quarantine-station at which live-stock intended for export to this Dominion might be confined and treated has been carefully looked into. It is felt that the Government could accede to the suggestion that cattle which have been subjected at the quarantine-station to the tuberculin test should not require to be further tested on arrival in New Zealand, as it is recognized that the test would be carefully carried out at such a station under favourable conditions. A similar concession could be made in regard to horses subjected at, the station to the mallein test. It is presumed that the animals would be removed from the quarantine-station direct to the ship, and not allowed to be taken to any stables. In regard to the remission of quarantine in New Zealand, it is felt that at present compliance cannot safely be promised with the suggestion that animals which have passed through the proposed quarantine-station should be admitted here without further quarantine restrictions. The quarantine period in New Zealand gives an opportunity for close examination by Government veterinary officers, which would not be available if the animals were removed to their owners' properties. Our experience has proved in several cases that this detention has been of the greatest value in the interests of the Dominion. Thos. Mackenzie, Prime Minister.

No. 20. New Zealand, No. 102. Sir,— Government House, Wellington, sth July, 1912. With reference to your despatch, No. 106, of the 11th April, covering copies of the report of a departmental committee appointed in 1908 to inquire into the dangers attendant on the use of lead in the manufacture of earthenware and china, and in the processes incidental thereto, I have the honour to inform you, by request of my Prime Minister, that inquiries will be made by the Department of Labour into the matter, and if it is found that injury to the health of employees in New Zealand is caused by the use of lead in any manufacturing processes the Government will consider the question with a view to legislating on the subject. 2. Some similar restriction on the manufacture of matches, white-lead, &c, is already contained in the Factories Act, section 27. I have, &c, ISLINGTON, The Right Hon. Lewis V. Harcourt, P.C., &c, Governor. Secretary of State for the Colonies.

A.-2, 1913, No. 26.

No. 21. New Zealand, No. 103. Sir, — Government House, Wellington, 11th July, 1912. I have the honour to transmit to you the accompanying copy of a resolution, forwarded to me by my Prime Minister, passed by the Christchurch Branch of the New Zealand Anti-Opium Association relative to the Indo-Chinese opium traffic. I have, &c, ISLINGTON, The Right Hon. Lewis V. Harcourt, P. 0., &c, Governor. Secretary of State for the Colonies.

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Enclosure. Copy oe Resolution passed at the Anti-Opium Meeting held at Christchurch on 28th May, 1912. " That this meeting places on record its sense of the disgrace attaching to our nation —a nation which has led the world in other reforms —through its continued connection with the opium traffic. It rejoices that the House of Commons has declared this infamous traffic, which is an Indian monopoly, morally indefensible, but regrets that, notwithstanding this unanimous vote, the British Government still holds China to the Treaty of Tientsin, which was wrung from that country by a cowardly war, and which compels her to receive Indian opium. This meeting rejoices greatly at the determination and sacrifice of the Chinese Government in its gallant attempt to extirpate this habit, and regrets that Great Britain has offered only a gradual reduction of the amount which it insists upon pouring into China. The meeting feels that a Christian nation, which has publicly declared the traffic to be indefensible, and which knows that the traffic is responsible for the degradation and destruction of millions of Chinese, should express its regret for the fifty years of wrong, and offer China immediate freedom from the shameful bondage of the Tientsin Treaty." H. Holland, Chairman. R. S. Gray, Mover. H. Packer, Hon. Secretary, Christchurch Branch, New Zealand Anti-Opium Association.

No. 22. New Zealand, No. 105. Sir, — Government House, Wellington, 11th July, 1912. I have the honour to transmit to you the accompanying copy of the Speech with which, on the 27th June, I opened the second session, of the Eighteenth Parlia - ment of New Zealand, together with copies of the Addresses in Reply from the Legislative Council and the House of Representatives respectively. I have, &c, ISLINGTON, The Right Hon. Lewis V. Harcourt, P.C., &c, Governor. Secretary of State for the Colonies.

No. 23. New Zealand, No. 106. Sir, — Government House, Wellington, 11th July, 1912. I have the honour to confirm my telegram of the 6th July, acquainting you that, as the result of the defeat of the Mackenzie Government by a majority of eight, on a no-confidence motion moved by Mr. W. F. Massey, Leader of the Opposition, on the Address in Reply, Mr. Mackenzie handed, to me his resignation and that of his colleagues on the 6th July, and that I had therefore called upon Mr. Massey to form a Government. 2. As I informed you in my telegram of to-day's date, Mr. Massey has succeeded in forming a Ministry, which has been sworn in, and which is composed of the following gentlemen : — The Honourable William Ferguson Massey —Prime Minister, Minister of Lands, Minister of Agriculture, and Minister of Labour. Colonel the Honourable James Allen—Minister of Finance, Minister of Defence, and Minister of Education. The Honourable William Herbert Herries — Minister of Railways and Minister of Native Affairs. The Honourable Alexander Laurence Herdman — Attorney-General and Minister of Justice. The Honourable William Fraser—Minister of Public Works and Minister of Mines. The Honourable Francis Marion Bates Fisher—Minister of Customs and Minister of Marine. The Honourable Robert Heaton Rhodes —Postmaster-General and Minister of Telegraphs (one portfolio). The Honourable Francis Dillon Bell—Minister of Internal Affairs. The Honourable Maui Pomare—Member of the Executive Council representing the Native Race.

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2. I have also summoned the Honourable Francis Dillon Bell (Minister of Internal Affairs) to the Legislative Council. He is to be Leader of the Government in that Chamber. I have, &c, ISLINGTON, The Right Hon. Lewis V. Harcourt, P.C., &c, ' Governor. Secretary of State for the Colonies.

No. 24. New Zealand, No. 107. Sir, — Government House, Wellington, 11th July, 1912. I have the honour to transmit to you the accompanying copy of a memorandum which I have received from my Prime Minister, requesting me to submit the name of Mr. Thomas Mackenzie, Prime Minister of the late Government, for His Majesty's gracious permission to retain the title of " Honourable," he having now ceased to be a member of the Executive Council of this Dominion. 2. Mr. Mackenzie has been a member of the Executive Council for more than three years. I have, &c, ISLINGTON, The Right Hon. Lewis V. Harcourt, P.C., &c, Governor. Secretary of State for the Colonies.

No. 25. New Zealand, No. 109. Sir, — Government House, Wellington, 12th July, 1912. I have the honour to inform you that on the 13th June I summoned to the Legislative Council of this Dominion— Major the Honourable Sir William Jukes Steward, Knight ; The Honourable Thomas Young Duncan ; and Thomas Parata, Esquire. Notification was published in the issue of the New Zealand Gazette of the 27th June, 1912. I have, &c, ISLINGTON, The Right Hon. Lewis V. Harcourt, P.C., &c, . Governor. Secretary of State for the Colonies.

No. 26. New Zealand, No. 115. Sir, — Government House, Wellington, 26th July, 1912. With reference to the Earl of Elgin's despatch, No. 46, of the 25th March, 1908, in which it was requested that copies of any licenses issued in this Dominion for the working of wireless telegraphy on board ships should be sent to the Secretary of State for the Colonies, for the information of the Postmaster-General, I have the honour, by request of my Prime Minister, to transmit to you the accompanying copy of a license, in duplicate, dated the 13th July, 1912, for the installation and working of apparatus for wireless telegraphy on board the undermentioned five steamers of the Union Steamship Company of New Zealand (Limited), namely : " Aorangi," " Hauroto," " Makura," " Manapouri," " Marama." I have, &c, ISLINGTON, The Right Hon. Lewis V. Harcourt, P.C., &c, Governor. Secretary of State for the Colonies.

No. 27. New Zealand, No. 118. Sir, — Government House, Wellington, 31st July, 1912. With reference to your despatch, No. 95, of the 27th March, enclosing copy of a resolution which was passed by the Imperial Conference in 1911, in favour of the

A.-2, 1913. No. 20.

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mutual enforcement of judgments and orders of Courts of justice, including judgments and orders as to commercial arbitration awards, I have the honour to transmit to you the accompanying copy of a memorandum by the Solicitor-General, in which my Government concurs. I have, &c, - ISLINGTON, The Right Hon. Lewis V. Harcourt, P.C., &c, Governor. Secretary of State for the Colonies.

Enclosure. Enforcement of Colonial Judgments in United Kingdom. Solicitor-General's Office, Wellington, 10th June, 1912. The Hon. the Minister of Justice. I have carefully considered the despatch from the Secretary of State for the Colonies, dated the 27th March, 1912, relating to the proposed legislation in England for the enforcement there of colonial judgments and colonial arbitration awards. I recommend that the Imperial Government be informed that the New Zealand Government approves of the proposed extension to colonial judgments and arbitration awards of the principle contained in the Judgments Extension Act, 1868. His Majesty's Government should also be informed that, although legislation on these lines is already in force in New Zealand by virtue of section 56 of the Judicature Act, 1908, the New Zealand Government is prepared to introduce further legislation, if necessary, for the purpose of bringing New Zealand law into conformity with English legislation which may be passed on this matter. With respect to the request contained in the above-mentioned despatch, that suggestions should be made as to the exact terms of the legislation to be introduced in the Imperial Parliament, I recommend that the following suggestions be made by the New Zealand Government. They should, however, be made as suggestions merely, and not as essential conditions of the approval of this Government to the measure proposed. 1. Enforcement by way of execution in England of a colonial judgment should be allowable only by leave of an English Court, which should, however, be obtainable ex parte if necessary. 2. The Bill should expressly extend to colonial judgments for penalties, penal sums, taxes, rates, and duties, so as to supersede within the British Empire the rule of international law that liabilities so incurred in one country are not enforceable in another. (See " Dicey on Conflict of Laws," p. 207, 2nd cd. ; Municipal County of Sydney v. Bull, 1909, 1 K.B. 7.) If, for example, an English firm or company is guilty of a fraud upon the Customs laws of a colony, and the penalty is recovered by action in that colony, there seems to be no sufficient reason why that judgment should not be enforceable in the United Kingdom. 3. It should be made clear by express provision in the Bill that except in respect of penalties, &c, as mentioned above, the rules of private international law as establishing the limits of the jurisdiction of foreign Courts are not interfered with. This is probably the effect of the Judgments Extension Act, 1868, as it stands, but there is no express provision. (See Dicey, p. 423.) A judgment obtained in a colony against a person resident in the United Kingdom, and not served with a writ in the colony, is not now enforceable by action in England, on the ground that by the rules of private international law the colonial Court had no jurisdiction over the defendant. It ought to be made clear in the Bill, therefore, whether or not a similar rule is to apply to enforcement of such judgment by execution. If the views which I have expressed meet with the approval of the New Zealand Government, I suggest that the most convenient course will be to cause a copy of this memorandum to be transmitted to the Secretary of State for the Colonies, together with an intimation to that effect. John Salmond.

No. 28. New Zealand, No. 125. Sir, — Government House, Wellington, 9th August, 1912. With reference to your despatch, No. 152, of the 21st May, forwarding . copies of papers from the Governor and the Solicitor to Industry of South Australia, ] on the subject of the legislation of that State relating to workmen's compensation, I have the honour to inform you that the following is a copy of a minute which has been sent to me by my Prime Minister:— " As the South Australian new Workers' Compensation Act appears to provide for compensation being paid to New Zealand relatives of workers that have met with accidents in South Australia, the question of establishing reciprocity under section 53 of the New Zealand Compensation Act is being referred to the Crown Law Office for advice. It is expected that, in due course, an Order in Council will be gazetted, establishing reciprocity in accordance with the above-mentioned section." I have, &c, ISLINGTON, The Right Hon. Lewis V. Harcourt, P.C., &c, Governor. Secretary of State for the Colonies.

A.-2, 1913 No. 45.

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No. 29. New Zealand, No. 126. Sir, — Government House, Wellington, 9th August, 1912. With reference to your despatch, No. 110, of the 12th April, and to my telegram of the 3rd August, relative to the application for the grant of His Majesty's permission for the adoption of the title " King George's Sailors' Institute " in connection with the Sailors' Institute which is being erected at Port Lyttelton in commemoration of His Majesty's Coronation, I have the honour to transmit to you the accompanying copy of a memorandum from the Prime Minister recommending that the application be granted. I may add that the application for the title in question also has my support. I enclose, for your information, a copy of a letter from the honorary secretary of the Port Lyttelton Branch of the British and Foreign Sailors' Society, addressed to Mr. G. Laurenson, M.P., explaining the financial position in regard to the new institute. I have, &c, ISLINGTON, The Right Hon. Lewis V. Harcourt, P.C., &c, Governor. Secretary of State for the Colonies.

A.-2, 1913, No. 29.

No. 30. New Zealand, No. 127. Sir, — Government House, Wellington, 9th August, 1912. With reference to your despatch, No. 56, of the 15th February, covering a copy of a letter from the War Office relative to certain Rifle regiments of the New Zealand Military Forces being entitled to carry colours, I have the honour to inform you that in a minute from the Minister of Defence, forwarded to me by my Prime Minister, it is stated that the question, of altering the designation, of the eight New Zealand Infantry regiments concerned, so as to permit of their carrying colours, is under consideration, and that I shall be further advised in the matter in due course. I have, &c, ISLINGTON, The Right Hon. Lewis V. Harcourt, P. 0., &c, , Governor. Secretary of State for the Colonies.

A.-2, 1913, No. 2.

No. 31. New Zealand, No. 133. Sir, — Government House, Wellington, 22nd August, 1912. With reference to my telegram of the 20th August, on the subject of recent proposals made in the United States Legislature regarding the opening of the Panama Canal and the question of fees or dues on vessels using it, I have the honour to transmit to you the accompanying copy of a memorandum received from my Prime Minister, the substance of which was communicated in my telegram. I have, &c, ISLINGTON, The Right Hon. Lewis V. Harcourt, P. 0., &c, Governor. Secretary of State for the Colonies.

Enclosure. Prime Minister's Office, Wellington, 19th August, 1912. Memorandum for His Excellency the Governor. The Prime Minister presents his compliments, and begs to call His Excellency's attention to recent proposals in the United States Legislature with reference to the opening of the Panama Canal, and the question of fees or dues on vessels using it. The Prime Minister points out that apparently it has been proposed that there should be a system of bonus or rebate to American vessels, and it would naturally follow that vessels of other nationalities would be compelled to pay higher dues in order to make up the deficiency caused through the exemption of American shipping. His Excellency's Advisers point out that such a proposal, if given effect to, would be a very serious matter for New Zealand, and the Prime Minister respectfully requests His Excellency to communicate by telegraph with the Imperial authorities asking them to use their influence to preserve intact the provisions of the Hay-Pauncefote Treaty. W. F. Massey, s Prime Minister.

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No. 32. New Zealand, No. 136. Sir, — Government House, Wellington, 23rd August, 1912. With reference to the Earl of Elgin's despatch, No. 46, of the 25th March, 1908, in which it was requested that copies of any licenses issued in New Zealand for the working of wireless telegraphy on board ships should be sent to the Secretary of State for the Colonies, for the information of the Postmaster-General, I have the honour to transmit to you, by request of my Prime Minister, the accompanying copy of a license, in duplicate, dated the 13th August, 1912, for the installation and working of apparatus for wireless telegraphy on board the Government cable-steamer " Tutanekai." I have, &c, ISLINGTON, The Right Hon. Lewis V. Harcourt, P.C., &c, Governor. Secretary of State for the Colonies.

No. 33. New Zealand, No. 139. Sir, — Government House, Wellington, 30th August, 1912. With reference to your despatch, No. 201, of the sth July, transmitting copies of a departmental paper prepared by the Board of Trade containing translations of the Rules for Life-saving Appliances on Merchant Ships, which are in force in foreign countries, I have the honour to inform you that my Ministers state that these translations will be of value to the Marine Department when dealing with the question of amending its life-saving appliances rules. I have, &c, ISLINGTON, The Right Hon. Lewis V. Harcourt, P.C., &c, Governor. Secretary of State for the Colonies.

No. 34. New Zealand, Honours. Sir, — Government House, Wellington, sth September, 1912. With reference to your despatch, Honours, of the 22nd July, I have the honour to inform you that on the 30th August, 1912, at Government House, Wellington, I presented to Mr. Donald Robertson and Mr. John Strauchon their badges as Companions of the Imperial Service Order, together with letters addressed to them containing their warrants of appointment, and copies of the statutes of the order. I also requested them to send an acknowledgment of the receipt of their insignia direct to the Secretary of the Imperial Service Order. 2. Mr. Robertson and Mr. Strauchon. request me to ask you to convey to His Majesty the King their great appreciation of the honour which His Majesty has been so graciously pleased to bestow upon them. I have, &c, ISLINGTON, The Right Hon. Lewis V. Harcourt, P.C., &c, Governor. Secretary of State for the Colonies.

A.-2, 1913, No. 68.

No. 35. New Zealand, No. 144. Sir, — Government House, Wellington, the September, 1912. With reference to your despatches, Nos. 197 and 198, of the sth July, and to my telegram of this date, respecting the Dominions Royal Commission appointed in pursuance of the 20th resolution of the Imperial Conference, 1911, I have the honour to transmit to you the accompanying copy of the memorandum received from my Prime Minister—the substance of which was communicated in my telegram —embodying the views of Ministers on the suggestions made in your despatch, No. 197. I have, &c, ISLINGTON, The Right Hon. Lewis V. Harcourt, P.C., &c, Governor. Secretary of State for the Colonies.

A.-2, .1913, No. 62.

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Enclosure. Prime Minister's Office, Wellington, 3rd September, 1912. Memorandum for His Excellency the Governor. The Prime Minister presents his compliments to His Excellency the Governor, and begs to refer to despatches Nos. 197 and 198, of the sth July (returned herewith), respecting the Royal Commission on Empire Trade. The Prime Minister would be glad if the Secretary of State were informed that the contents of the despatches have been duly noted, and that the information and suggestions asked for in the printed memoranda relating to the existing conditions of trade and to the question of migration will be supplied by the Government as fully as possible at an early date ; also that copies of the printed memorandum B, on the subject of migration, will be forwarded to such representative institutions and individuals as the Government consider will be best able to furnish the information desired by the Commission. Any information that may be required regarding statistics or any other matters will also be gladly supplied by the Government. The itinerary of the Commission during its visit to this Dominion will be gone into as soon as it is possible to do so, and proposals in connection therewith will be submitted to His Excellency in due course. The appointment of a special officer to deal with the local work of the Commission will be carried out on the lines suggested in the despatches ; and all information collected for the Commissioners will be duly forwarded to His Hxcellency, for transmission to them in the ordinary way. W. F. Massey, Prime Minister.

No. 36. New Zealand, No. 147. Sir, — Government House, Wellington, 13th September, 1912. With reference to your despatch of the 6th March, No. 69, forwarding copies of a Convention for the gradual suppression of the abuse of opium and of morphine, cocaine, and similar drugs, which was signed at The Hague on the 23rd January, and inquiring whether my Ministers are able to recommend that the Convention should be signed on behalf of the New Zealand Government, I have the honour to transmit to you the accompanying copy of a memorandum received from my Prime Minister on the subject. 2. Copies of the Acts and regulations mentioned in the memorandum are attached. I have, &c, ISLINGTON, The Right Hon. Lewis V. Harcourt, P.C.. &c, Governor. Secretary of State for the Colonies.

Enclosure. Prime Minister's Office, Wellington, 10th September, 1912. Memorandum for His Excellency the Governor. The Prime Minister presents his compliments, and returns herewith G.H. 256, of 1912, relative to the Opium Convention. It is recommended that the Convention be signed on behalf of New Zealand, and the Government will consider what .steps it will be necessary to take to give effect to the policy laid down in the Convention. A copy of the Opium Act of 1908, the Opium Amendment Act of 1910, and the regulations made thereunder prohibiting the importation and use of opium, is forwarded for His Excellency's information, and the Prime Minister desires to add that, as opium is not manufactured in New Zealand, the provisions of the Convention relating to export have no application. W. F. Massey, . Prime Minister.

No. 37. New Zealand, No. 156. Sir, — Government House, Wellington, 26th September, 1912. I have the honour to transmit to you the accompanying copy of a memorandum which I have received from my Prime Minister, stating that it has been deemed necessary, for improved trade relationship between importers in this country and exporters in the United Kingdom, to appoint a Commercial Expert and Accredited Inquiry Agent for the Department of Trade and Customs. 2. It will be observed that the agent appointed (Mr. H. Richard Spence) is to take up his headquarters in London during November next, and that it is desired

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that His Majesty's Government may be good enough to arrange for the co-operation of the Intelligence Department of the Board of Trade in the way of granting to Mr. Spence facilities for acquiring such information as may be of use in furthering his work. 3. I enclose a list, forwarded to me by the Prime Minister, indicating methods of Customs evasions. I have, &c, ISLINGTON, The Right Hon. Lewis V. Harcourt, P.C., &c, Governor. Secretary of State for the Colonies.

Enclosure. Prime Minister's Office, Wellington, 9th September, 1912. Memorandum for His Excellency the Governor. The Prime Minister presents his compliments, and begs respectfully to bring under His Excellency's notice the fact that it has been deemed necessary, for improved trade relationship between importers in this country and exporters in the United Kingdom, to appoint a Commercial Expert and Accredited Inquiry Agent for the Department of Trade and Customs. The agent is to take up his headquarters in London during November next. The officer detailed for the work is Mr. Henry Richard Spence, late Collector of Customs at Invercargill. His duties will include verification of the true home-consumption value of goods ; whether goods are prison-made or otherwise ; the character of discounts, deductions, or allowances made from invoice prices ; cases of duplicate invoicing ; and, particularly, the true country of origin of goods claimed as of British make under the preferential tariff. He will, if business of sufficient importance warrants it, make a short annual visit to the Continent and to the United States of America. The records of the Customs Department in New Zealand and in Australia abound with instances where goods made abroad are imported into the United Kingdom and reshipped as British goods, thus escaping the preferential duty. The Prime Minister would be much obliged if His Excellency will be pleased to communicate with the Imperial Government to secure the co-operation of the Intelligence Department of the Board of Trade in the way of granting to Mr. Spence facilities for acquiring such information as may be of use in furthering his work. W. P. Massey, • Prime Minister.

No. 38. New Zealand, No. 159. Sir, — Government House, Wellington, Ist October, 1912. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch, Miscellaneous, of the 29th July, forwarding the new Public Seal which has been prepared for the Dominion of New Zealand, together with the Royal Warrant authorizing its use. 2. In accordance with the desire expressed in the last paragraph of your despatch, my Prime Minister informs me that upon receipt of the Seal press which was forwarded by the High Commissioner, and which is due to arrive here on the 2nd October, the old Seal will be returned to me for transmission to you. The old Seal press will be despatched to the High Commissioner for delivery to the Deputy Master of the Royal Mint. I have, &c, ISLINGTON, The Right Hon. Lewis V. Harcourt, P.C., &c, Governor. Secretary of State for the Colonies.

A.-2, 1913. No. 70.

No. 39. New Zealand, No. 162. Sir, — Government House, Wellington, 10th October, 1912. With reference to your despatch, No. 222, of the 30th July, transmitting a copy of a letter from the Army Council relative to the granting of permission to members of the Army Special Reserve to emigrate to the oversea dominions, I have the honour to inform you, in reply to the last paragraph of your despatch, that my Ministers report as follows :—

A.-2, 1913 No. 71.

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" Proposals contained in War Office letter of 18th July, 1912, agreed to. The arrangements already made by the New Zealand Government in the case of callingout of Army Reservists will be applied in the case of men of the Army Special Reserve referred to in the despatch." I have, &c, ISLINGTON, The Right Hon. Lewis V. Harcourt, P.C., &c, Governor. Secretary of State for the Colonies.

No. 40. New Zealand, No. 165. Sir. — Government House, Wellington, 11th October, 1912. With reference to my despatch of the 9th August, No. 127, on the subject of the carrying of colours by regiments of the New Zealand Forces, I have the honour to transmit to you. the accompanying copy of a memorandum received from my Prime Minister, together with a copy of the enclosure referred to in the memorandum. I have, &c, ISLINGTON, The Right Hon. Lewis V. Harcourt, P. 0., &c, Governor. Secretary of State for the Colonies. Enclosures. Prime Minister's Office, Wellington, Bth October, 1912. Memorandum for His Excellency the Governor. The Prime Minister presents his compliments to His Excellency the Governor, and desires to state as follows for His Excellency's information, in respect to despatch No. 56 of the 15th February, 1912, received from the Right. Hon. the Secretary of State for the Colonies, on the subject of the carrying of colours by regiments of the New Zealand Territorial Force : — 1. Of the eight Infantry regiments referred to in the despatch, seven have agreed to have their designations altered as described hereunder, with the privilege of carrying colours. These alterations will be made forthwith :— Present Designation. Future Designation. 4th Regiment (Otago Rifles) .. .. .. . . 4th (Otago) Regiment. sth Regiment (Wellington Rifles) .. .. .. sth (Wellington) Regiment. 7th Regiment (Wellington West Coast Rifles) .. . . 7th (Wellington West Coast) Regiment. Bth Regiment (Southland Rifles) . . .. . . Bth (Southland) Regiment. 9th Regiment (Wellington East Coast Rifles) .. . . 9th (Wellington East Coast) Regiment. 10th Regiment (North Otago Rifles) .. . . . . 10th (North Otago) Regiment. 14th Regiment (South Otago Rifles) .. .. . . 14th (South Otago) Regiment. 2. The remaining unit —namely, the 11th Regiment (Taranaki Rifles) —is desirous of retaining its original title of " Taranaki Rifles," in which connection a copy of a communication from the officer commanding the unit in question is attached, for favour of transmission to War Office. 3. In regard to paragraph 2, the Prime Minister respectfully requests that His Excellency will convey to the Colonial Office the wishes of the regiment to carry the private colour presented by the ladies of Taranaki, that being the only colour in its possession, while still keeping the title of " Taranaki Rifles "; and it is hoped that the Army Council may, if at all possible, grant the regiment this special concession in recognition of its past traditions. J. Allen, For Prime Minister.

11th Regiment (Taranaki Rifles). The 11th Regiment are desirous of retaining their old and original title —viz., " Taranaki Rifles." The Taranaki Rifles have traditions dating back to the Maori wars ; in fact, they were the first British Volunteer corps to become engaged with an enemy in the field, and my regiment do not desire to sever the link with the past if it can possibly be avoided. The 11th Regiment has a private colour presented by the ladies of this district "as a .token of the grateful and affectionate interest and their deep sense of the bravery and devotion displayed by the corps." This has been looked upon as a regimental Colour, but the regiment does not possess a King's Colour. My regiment was not given a King's Colour at the time when nearly all the regiments in New Zealand received that distinction. The King's Colour was presented to regiments which sent twenty men or more to the South African War, and the Taranaki Rifles exceeded this number, but, owing to some mistake on the part of the then officer commanding, my regiment did not receive this distinction.

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The position with my regiment is as follows: that it is the wish of the 11th Regiment (Taranaki Rifles) to still retain their old title, and to conform to the customs of Rifle regiments of the British Army, with this one exception, and that is, that this regiment be granted the unique distinction of carrying this one colour. One of the Native regiments in India has the unique distinction of being allowed to carry three colours in recognition of past traditions, and I therefore respectfully suggest that my regiment, in memory of past traditions, be granted the privilege asked for. The veterans, the officers, non-commissioned officers, and men associated with the Taranaki Rifles are all interested in this matter, and my letter is an expression of the sentiment generally felt in this matter. Trusting this, my request, will have careful consideration, I have, &c, Wm, G. Malone, Lieut.-Colonel, Commanding 11th Regiment (Taranaki Rifles).

No. 41. New Zealand, No. 168. Sir, — Government House, Wellington, 24th October, 1912. With reference to your despatch of the 6th September, No. 260, forwarding copies of draft rules as to life-saving appliances, together with a memorandum on safety of life at sea, issued by the Board of Trade, I have the honour to subjoin a copy of a minute written by the Minister of Marine to my Prime Minister on the subject:— " The High Commissioner has been instructed to forward copies of the new Board of Trade life-saving appliances rules for ships as soon as they are made, and he advises that fifty copies will be sent as soon as made. I propose that the question of making new rules for New Zealand shall stand over until the new Board of Trade rules come to hand, when the question as to what shall be done in the Dominion will be fully and carefully considered." I have, &c, ISLINGTON, The Right Hon. Lewis V. Harcourt, P.C., &c, Governor. Secretary of State for the Colonies.

No. 42. New Zealand, No. 169. Sir, — Government House, Wellington, 25th October, 1912. With reference to your Miscellaneous despatch of the 29th July, forwarding the new Public Seal for the Dominion of New Zealand, and to my despatch, No. 159, dated Ist October, acknowledging the receipt of the Seal, I have the honour to transmit to you the old Seal of the Dominion, as requested. 2. I enclose a copy of a memorandum which I have received from my Prime Minister, in which it is requested that the old Seal, after being defaced, may be returned to the Dominion. I have, &c, ISLINGTON, The Right Hon. Lewis V. Harcourt, P.C., &c, • Governor. Secretary of State for the Colonies.

1913, No. 70.

No. 43. New Zealand, No. 170. Sir, — Government House, Wellington, 31st October, 1912. With reference to your despatch of the 27th June, No. 185, enclosing a copy of a letter from the Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain relative to the proposed interchange of certificates of pharmaceutical qualification between that

A.-2, 1913. No. 57.

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society and the Pharmacy Board of New Zealand, I have the honour to inform you, by request of my Prime Minister, that the suggestion, contained in the society's letter has received the consideration of the Board in New Zealand, and that the following resolution was carried on the 11th October :— " That the New Zealand Pharmacy Board, having for many years registered under the provisions of the New Zealand Pharmacy Act applicants holding the pharmacy diploma of Great Britain, is pleased to note that the Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain is taking steps to grant registration to applicants holding the pharmacy qualification of New Zealand, and approves generally the conditions proposed, with the exception of No. 6, which imposes a registration fee of £12 12s. —a much higher charge than the fee of £1 10s. imposed upon all applicants for registration in New Zealand." I have, &c, ISLINGTON, The Right Hon. Lewis V. Harcourt, P.C., &c, Governor. Secretary of State for the Colonies.

No. 44. New Zealand, No. 175. Sir, — Government House, Wellington, 7th November, 1912. With reference to your despatch of the 20th September, No. 274, enclosing for communication to my Ministers copies of the International Radio-telegraphic Convention signed on the sth July, 1912, I have the honour to transmit to you the accompanying copy of a memorandum which I have received from my Prime Minister, stating that in the event of His Majesty's Government ratifying the Convention it is desired that the adhesion of New Zealand should be notified simultaneously. I have, &c, ISLINGTON, The Right Hon. Lewis V. Harcourt, P. 0., &c, Governor. Secretary of State for the.Colonies.

No. 45. New Zealand, No. 179. Sir, — Government House, Wellington, 14th November, 1912. With reference to your despatch, No. 269, of the 19th September, forwarding copies of a memorandum from the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries relative to the incorrect use of the term " cattle plague," I have the honour to transmit to you the accompanying copy of a memorandum, dated the 12th November, which I have received from my Prime Minister on the subject. I have, &c, ISLINGTON, The Right Hon. Lewis V. Harcourt, P. 0., &c, Governor. Secretary of State for the Colonies.

A.-2, 1913 No. 82.

Enclosure. Prime Minister's Office, Wellington, 12th November, 1912. Memorandum for His Excellency the Governor. With reference to the attached Government House despatch, No. 854/1912, on the subject of the incorrect use of the term " cattle plague " in connection with the recent outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease in the United Kingdom, the Prime Minister presents his compliments, and desires to acquaint His Excellency that there has been no misapprehension in New Zealand regarding this matter, and it is quite understood here that the outbreaks have been of foot-and-mouth disease and not of cattle plague. It is therefore considered undesirable to circulate the wrong information in order that it may be at the same time denied. No doubt the Home Board of Agriculture and Fisheries will fully concur in this opinion. W. H. Herries, For Prime Minister.

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No. 46. New Zealand, No. 180. Sir, — Government House, Wellington, 21st November, 1912. I have the honour to transmit to you, by request of my Prime Minister, the accompanying copies of the Acts, duly authenticated and sealed, passed during the session of the Parliament of New Zealand which ended on the 7th November, 1912, together with the usual synopsis and report of the Hon. the Attorney-General. 2. Six copies of the Shipping and Seamen Amendment Bill, which has been reserved for the signification of His Majesty's pleasure thereon, will be forwarded by my Government direct to you in accordance with Colonial Office circular despatch of the 23rd December, 1903. I have, &c, ISLINGTON, The Right Hon. Lewis V. Harcourt, P.C., &c, Governoi, Secretary of State for the Colonies. Enclosures. Report on Legislation passed by the General Assembly or New Zealand during the Session ending on the 7th Day op November, 1912. For the information of His Excellency the Governor, I beg to report as follows : — I. The synopsis attached hereto relates to the Acts passed by the General Assembly of New Zealand during the session which ended on the 7th day of November, 1912. 11. In my opinion, none of the said Acts is repugnant to the law of England. 111. The Shipping and Seamen Amendment Act, 1912 (No. 53), has been reserved for the signification of His Majesty's pleasure thereon, in accordance with the provisions of the Merchant Snipping Act, 1894 (Imperial). A. L. Herdman, Dated at Wellington, this 15th day of November, 1912. Attorney-General.

Synopsis op Acts passed by the General Assembly of New Zealand during the Session ended on the 7th Day op November, 1912. 1912, No. 1. The Imprest Supply Act, 1912 : This Act applies the sum of £696,100 out of the Public Account, and the sum of £18,800 out of other accounts, to the service of the year ending 31st March, 1913. 1912, No. 2. The Imprest Supply Act, 1912 (No. 2): This Act applies a sum of £744,600 out of the Public Account, and the sum of £16,800 out of other accounts, to the service of the year ending 31st March, 1913. 1912, No. 3. The Imprest Supply Act, 1912 (No. 3) : This Act applies a sum of £743,600 out of the Public Account, and the sum of £13,800 out of other accounts, to the service of the year ending 31st March, 1913. 1912, No. 4. The Deputy Governor's Powers Act, .1.912 : This Act confers on the Deputy of the Governor the right to exercise the powers and authorities vested in the Governor by any Act or law for the time being in force in New Zealand, or by Letters Patent. Section 5 provides for the retrospective operation of the Act. 1912, No. 5. The New Zealand University Amendment Act, 1912 : This Act empowers the Senate of the New Zealand University to confer a diploma in public health, and to make regulations prescribing, inter alia, the subjects of examination for such diploma, and the fees payable in respect thereof. 1912, No. 6. The Prisons Amendment Act, 1912 : This Act authorizes the Governor to provide by regulations for the photographing and taking of finger-prints and measurements of prisoners who have been convicted or accused of any criminal offence, and who are for the time being detained in any prison or police-gaol. In particular, such regulations may authorize the use of reasonable force to ensure compliance therewith ; and may also provide for the destruction of records in the case of persons not subsequently convicted of an offence, and of records the preservation of which is no longer deemed to be desirable. 1912, No. 7. The Agricultural and Pastoral Societies Amendment Act, 1912 : This Act provides, inter alia, as follows : — (a.) It confers on agricultural and pastoral societies the leasing-powers of a leasing authority within the meaning of the Public Bodies' Leases Act, 1908. (6.) It extends the powers of societies in respect of the application of the proceeds of the sale by a society of land vested in it. (c.) Section 4 authorizes the Governor in Council, on the application of a society incorporated under the principal Act, to change the name of that society.

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1912, No. 8. The Gold Duty Amendment Act, 1912 : This Act authorizes the Governor, by Order in Council, to make regulations exempting jewellers' and dentists' gold-sweepings from the payment of duty on exportation. 1912, No, 9. The Imprest Supply Act, 1912 (No. 4) : This Act applies a sum of £799,000 out of the Public Account, and a sum of £15,800 out of other accounts, for the service of the year ending 31st March, 1913. 1912, No. 10. The Land and Income Assessment Amendment Act, 1912 : This Act amends in various particulars the Land and Income Assessment Act, 1908. In particular, it provides as follows :— Section 6 declares that where an agent, directly or indirectly, sells or disposes of property of his principal, the principal shall be deemed to be carrying on business in New Zealand, and shall be liable to pay income-tax accordingly. Section 7 empowers the agent of a non-resident trader to apply any moneys of his principal which may be in his possession or under his control, in the payment of any tax payable by the principal. Section 17 repeals the existing provisions as to objections to assessments of land-tax or of income-tax, and sections 18 to 34 make new provisions in respect thereof. For computing the value of the property of a taxpayer for the purposes of the payment of ordinary land-tax, section 36 provides for an exemption not exceeding £3,500 where the taxpayer is a widow with dependent children. The amending Act also makes a number of administrative amendments of the principal Act. Section 43 repeals sections 51 and 52 and the Second Schedule to the principal Act (setting out the scale of graduated land-tax), and the rate of graduated tax is hereafter to be fixed in the annual Land-tax and Income-tax Act. 1912, No. 11. The Land-tax and Income-tax Act, 1912 : This Act imposes, at the rates therein expressed, a land-tax (comprising ordinary and graduated land-tax) and an income-tax for the current year. 1912, No. 12. The Justices of the Peace Amendment Act, 1912 : The object of this Act is to enable the Crown to provide counsel for persons accused of indictable offences in cases where the means of such persons are insufficient to enable them to obtain such aid, and the Judge at the trial or the Justices at the original hearing deem it expedient in the interests of justice (having regard to the circumstances of the case) that assistance should be so provided. 1912, No. 13. The Pharmacy Amendment Act, 1912 : This Act amends in various particulars the provisions of the Pharmacy Act, 1908. In particular, section 7 extends the provisions of the lastmentioned Act as to the reciprocal recognition of persons registered as chemists in other parts of the British dominions ; section 8 exempts registered chemists from the obligation of service on juries ; and section 9 renders it unlawful for chemists to pay commissions on the prescriptions of medical practitioners. 1912, No. 14. The Auckland University College Amendment Act, 1912 : This Act alters the constitution of the Council of the Auckland University College, and provides for the method of the election or appointment of the members thereof. 1912, No. 15. The Valuation of Land Amendment Act, 1912 : This Act amends in various particulars the provisions of the Valuation of Land Act, 1908. 1912, No. 16. The Local Authorities Superannuation Amendment Act, 1912 : This Act empowers a local authority, on establishing a scheme under the principal Act, to provide for the payment of an additional retiring-allowance to members in respect of their service prior to the establishment of the fund. Section 3 limits the amount of retiring-allowances to a sum not exceeding in any case £300 per annum. 1912. No. 17. The Public Trust Office Amendment Act, 1912 : This Act makes various amendments of the Public Trust Office Act, 1908. In particular, it provides as follows : — Section 2 empowers the Governor to appoint four Deputy Public Trustees, to be stationed respectively in Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin, and some specified town in the Wellington Provincial District. Every such Deputy is empowered to exercise such of the powers of the Public Trustee as may from time to time be delegated to him by writing under the hand of the Public Trustee. Other sections provide, inter alia, for, — (a.) The better investment of moneys in the common fund : (b.) The administration by the Public Trustee of funds raised by public subscription or otherwise for the relief of persons in indigent circumstances : (c.) Advances (without further authority) in respect of an infant's share of any estate being administered by the Public Trustee towards the maintenance, education, or advancement of the infant: (d.) Advances in respect of any beneficiary's share of an estate being administered by the Public Trustee, not exceeding one-half of the estimated value of that share : (c.) The inclusion of certain leasehold interests in the classes of security on which capital funds in the hands of the Public Trustee may be invested. 1912, No. 18. The Births and Deaths Registration Amendment Act, 1912 : This Act amends the Births and Deaths Registration Act, 1908, in various particulars, the amendments being almost exclusively of an administrative nature. 1912, No. 19. The Imprest Supply Act, 1912 (No. 5) : This Act applies the sum of £731,000 out of the Public Account, and £14,900 out of other specified accounts, to the service of the year ending 31st March, 1913.

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1912, No. 20. The Defence Amendment Act, 1912 : This Act makes numerous amendments of the Defence Act, 1909, with a view to facilitating the administration of that Act. In particular,— Sections 2 to 10 provide for the detention in military custody of persons who make default in the payment of any fines or costs imposed upon them for failure to register or submit themselves to military training under the principal Act, or otherwise commit an offence against that Act. Section 11 empowers the recovery of fines imposed under the principal Act by way of attachment order against the employer of an offender. The charge created by the order attaches to all wages or salary becoming due by the employer to the offender at any time while the fine, or any part thereof, remains unpaid. Sections 12 to 31 repeal the provisions of the principal Act, and make new provisions as to the constitution of courts-martial, and as to the conduct of proceedings and the enforcement of the sentence of any court-martial. The remaining sections consist principally of verbal and other amendments of the principal Act, and relate exclusively to the administration of that Act. 1912, No. 21. The Widows' Pensions Amendment Act, 1912 : This Act extends the benefits of the Widows' Pensions Act, 1911, — (a.) To women whose husbands are detained in an institution for mental defectives, and who are duly certified to be incurable for at least twelve months ; (b.) To certain children born out of New Zealand ; and (c.) To illegitimate children, whose parents subsequently intermarry. Section 6 provides an extended definition of the term " annual income," corresponding to the definition of that term in the Old-age Pensions Act. Section 7 authorizes the review and alteration of a pension-certificate during the currency thereof in cases where the circumstances of the pensioner are materially altered since the issue of the certificate. Section 8 provides that on the death of a widow in receipt of a pension, the guardian of her children to whom the principal Act applies may, with the approval of the Commissioner, receive on behalf of such children the payment to which the widow would have been entitled if she had lived. 1912, No. 22. The Divorce and Matrimonial Causes Amendment Act, 1912 : This Act amends in various respects the Divorce and Matrimonial Causes Act, 1908. In particular, — Section 2 (relating to the period of detention in an institution for mentally defective persons necessary to constitute a ground of divorce) reduces that period from an aggregate of ten years within a period of twelve years immediately preceding the filing of a petition to an aggregate of seven years within a period of ten years. Section 3 declares that divorced persons may remarry at any time after the making of a decree absolute for the dissolution of a prior marriage, and section 4 declares that no appeal shall lie from such a decree absolute. Section 5 declares to be valid any marriage heretofore celebrated after the making of a decree absolute but before the expiration of the time limited for an appeal therefrom. 1912, No. 23. The Public Service Act, 1912 : This Act repeals the Civil Service Act, 1908, and certain other Acts relating to the Public Service, and makes new provision for the regulation of that service. Part I provides for the appointment of a Commissioner and of two Assistant Commissioners, with a view to ensuring the establishment and continuance: of a proper standard of efficiency and economy in the Public Service. Part II provides for the division of the service into four main divisions —namely, (a) The Administrative Division; (b) the Professional Division; (c) the Clerical Division; and (d) the General. Division—and for the grading (within those four divisions) of all officers for the time being employed in the Public Service. Part 111 provides for the internal administration of the service. Part IV preserves existing rights to compensation for loss of office, and to superannuation allowances. 1912, No. 24. The Marriage Amendment Act, 1912 : This Act provides for the appointment of a Deputy Registrar-General, and of Deputies of Registrars of Marriages. 1912, No. 25. The Cemeteries Amendment Act, 1912 : This Act provides for the setting-aside as a private burial-ground of any land in which the body of any deceased person has heretofore been buried. The Act also provides for the appointment and incorporation of trustees, and defines the powers of such trustees. 1912, No. 26. The Aged and Infirm Persons Protection Act, 1912 : This Act provides for the appointment by the Supreme Court, on petition, of managers of the estates of persons who, by reason of age, disease, illness, or physical or mental infirmity, or by reason of their being addicted to the excessive use of alcoholic liquors or of intoxicating or other drugs, are deemed to be unable, wholly or partially, to manage their own affairs. Every manager so appointed shall have such powers and duties in respect of the protected estate as the Court from time to time defines or directs ; and shall, in respect of that property, have the rights and immunities of a trustee as defined by the Trustee Act, 1908. Provision is made for change of manager, and also (where a protected person is proved to the satisfaction of the Court to be of sufficient ability to manage his own affairs) for rescinding any order appointing a manager,

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1912, No. 27. The Government Railways Amendment Act, 1912 : This Act provides a new scale of salaries and wages for officers employed in the Government Railways Department. 1912, No. 28. The Public Revenues Amendment Act, 1912 : This Act amends in various respects the Public Revenues Act, 1910. In particular,— Section 5 provides for an annual appropriation of £10,000 out of the Consolidated Fund, to be paid into the common fund of the Public Trust Office, and to be applied from time to time towards the rebuilding or restoration of public buildings destroyed or damaged by fire. If at any time moneys appropriated under this section (with the accumulations thereon) amount to £100,000, no further payment is to be made until the moneys are reduced below that amount. Section 7 makes more effective provision for the recovery by the Audit Office from members of a local authority of moneys illegally expended by it. 1912, No. 29. The Savings-banks Amendment Act, 1912 : This Act amends in various particulars the Savings-banks Act, 1908. Section 3 authorizes the trustees of any bank to pay to any officer of the bank, on retirement from its service, an amount by way of compensation not exceeding the amount of salary received by that officer for the two years immediately preceding his retirement. Section 5 provides for the election by the trustees of one of their number as Deputy VicePresident of the bank, with power to act for the Vice-President on the occasion of the illness or other incapacity of that official. Section 7 extends the powers of trustees with respect to the investment of the funds of the bank. 1912, No. 30. The Aid to Public Works and Land Settlement Act, 1912 : This Act authorizes the Minister of Finance to raise a loan of £1,750,000, to be applied as follows : — (a.) In the construction of railways, £800,000 : (b.) In the purchase of rolling-stock, &c, £300,000 : (c.) In the construction of roads, bridges, and other works for the purposes of land-settlement and goldfields development, £500,000 : (d.) In respect of other public works, £150,000. 1912, No. 31. The Land Laws Amendment Act, 1912 : Part I of this Act makes various amendments of the Land Act, 1908, principally of an administrative nature. Section 3 provides that, before any area of land is subdivided for disposal by sale or lease as a town, a plan of the proposed subdivision, showing the roads and reserves proposed to be made, and the name of the town, shall be submitted to the Governor in Council, and the land shall not be disposed of until the plan so submitted has been approved by the Governor. Section 16 authorizes the Governor to exchange any area of national-endowment land for any area of private land of an approximately equal value, and land so acquired shall thereupon become part of the national endowment. Section 20 provides for the setting-aside of land in a kauri-gum reserve, to be subdivided into allotments not exceeding in any case twenty-five acres in area. Such allotments may be disposed of only to British subjects, to be held under license to occupy with right of purchase or under agreement to purchase on a system of deferred payment to be prescribed by regulations. Where any such allotment is held under license, no rent is to be payable in respect of the first five years of the term. Section 28 provides that on the expiry of any lease of a small grazing-run, and notwithstanding the provisions in the principal Act as to renewal, the area comprised in any such lease may be subdivided, and the allotments thereof disposed of by way of lease for twenty-one years with a perpetual right of renewal for further terms of twenty-one years. The provisions of the principal Act as to renewable leases are, mutatis mutandis, made applicable to leases under this section. Part II confers upon the owners of leases in perpetuity of Crown land the right to purchase the freehold, in the manner and at a price to be determined in accordance with the provisions of that Part. Purchases may be made for cash or by a system of deferred payment extending over a period of not more than nine years. Part 111 makes provision for agreements between the Minister of Lands and the owner in fee-simple of any land for the subdivision of that land, and for the disposal of the allotments by public tender, by sale, or by lease with right of purchase. On the execution of any such agreement the Minister may advance the moneys required for rendering the land available for settlement, including the cost of subdivision and survey and the cost of the construction of roads and bridges. In the case of a sale, the agreement may provide for the payment of the purchase-money by annual instalments extending over a period of from ten to twenty years, with interest on the amount for the time being unpaid not exceeding 5 per centum per annum. In the case of a lease the term shall be for twenty-one years, and the lessee shall have the right at any time during the currency of the lease to purchase the allotment at a price to be named in the tender. The rent payable under the lease shall not exceed 5 per centum per annum of the price so named in the tender. Section 49 provides for similar agreements between the Minister and the owners of Native freehold land in respect of that land. In pursuance of such agreement a proportion (not exceeding one-third) of the proceeds of Native land disposed of under this section may be paid over to the Native owners, and the balance is payable into a Native Land Trust Account, to be invested upon trust for such Native owners.

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Part IV forms part of the Land for Settlements Act, 1.908, and makes various amendments of that Act. Section 57 authorizes the sale in fee-simple of settlement land hereafter acquired, and of such land acquired before the passing of the Act but not disposed of. Section 59 confers upon the owners of renewable leases of settlement land the right to acquire the fee-simple at a price to be ascertained in the manner determined by that section. Section 60 restricts the right of purchase conferred by section 59, by limiting to 3,000 acres the area of land to be held by one person. The same section prohibits the holding by one person of any estate or interest in more than one allotment of settlement land or of land that has at any time been settlement land. 1.912, No. 32. The Local Bodies' Loans Amendment. Act, 1912 : This Act makes various amendments of the Local Bodies' Loans Act, 1908. In particular, it makes new provisions dealing with the merger of rating-areas over which a rate has been made as security for a loan in the district of a local authority other than the local authority that made the rate. 1912, No. 33. The Town Boards Amendment Act, 1912 : This Act amends in various particulars the Town Boards Act, 1908. 1912, No. 34. The Native Land Amendment Act, 1912 : This Act makes various amendments (principally of an administrative nature) of the Native Land Act, 1909. Section 17 makes provision enabling the Governor, on the recommendation of the Native Land Court, to declare by Order in Council that any Native named in the Order shall henceforth be deemed to be a European. Before making any such recommendation the Native Land Court must satisfy itself that the Native has certain educational qualifications, and has sufficient land for his adequate maintenance, or is, by reason of professional or other qualifications, otherwise in a position to adequately maintain himself. 1912, No. 35. The Government Life Insurance Amendment Act, 1912 : This Act empowers the Government Insurance Commissioner to appoint canvassing agents for the purposes of the business of the Government Insurance Department. 1912, No. 36. The Military Pensions Act, 1912 : This Act provides for the payment out of the Consolidated Fund of military pensions (not exceeding in any case the sum of £36 per annum) to persons who served under the Crown in any of the Maori wars. A pension granted under this Act is declared, by section 15, to be inalienable by way of assignment, charge, execution, bankruptcy, or otherwise howsoever. The administrative provisions of tire Act are practically identical with the corresponding provisions of the Old-age Pensions Act, 1908, and of the Widows' Pensions Act, 1911. 1912, No. 37. The State Fire Insurance Amendment Act, 1912 : This Act provides for the establishment out of the surplus profits of the State Fire Insurance Office of a Reserve Fund to meet the actual and contingent liabilities of the Office. When the moneys to the credit of the Reserve Fund are deemed sufficient to meet such liabilities, the balance of such net surplus profits may be distributed by way of bonuses among the actual insurers in the Office. 1912, No. 38. The Barmaids Registration Act, 1912 : This Act extends the time within which barmaids may be registered under the Licensing Amendment Act, 1910, and also prohibits the employment of unregistered barmaids in private bars, as well as in public bars. 1912, No. 39. The Public Reserves and Domains Amendment Act, 1912 : This Act empowers Domain Boards, with the consent of the Minister of Lands, to purchase lands for cash or on deferred payment; and also authorizes County Councils to acquire lands for recreation purposes, such lands to be vested in His Majesty as public domains. 1912, No. 40. The Education Amendment Act, 1912 : This Act makes various amendments of an administrative nature in the Education Act, 1908. Section 8 provides for the appointment of a Director of Physical Training, and also of Inspectors and teachers of physical training. 1912. No. 41. The Shearers' and Agricultural Labourers' Accommodation Amendment Act, 1912 : This Act amends in various particulars the provisions of the Shearers' and Agricultural Labourers' Accommodation Act, 1908, and applies that Act to workers in sawmills in the same manner as it applies to agricultural labourers. 1912, No. 42. The Land Agents Act, 1912 : This Act provides for the licensing of persons carrying on business as land agents, and prohibits unlicensed persons from carrying on such business. Licenses are to be issued by the Magistrate's Court on application accompanied by a fidelity bond of £500. A fee of £5 is payable in respect of each license, and the balance of such fees (after deducting the expenses, if any, incurred in respect of the issue of the license) is payable to the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board of the district in which the license is issued. 1912, No. 43. The Plumbers Registration Act, 1912 : This Act provides for the establishment of a Plumbers' Board of New Zealand, whose duty is to control the registration of plumbers and to conduct examinations. Section 16 authorizes the Governor, by Order in Council, to make regulations prescribing, inter alia, the districts in which sanitary plumbing (as defined) may be performed only by registered plumbers. Except as to sanitary plumbing within such districts, the Act does not restrict the powers of persons carrying on business as plumbers. 1912, No. 44. The Public Service Classification and Superannuation Amendment Act, 1912: Section 3 of this Act extends the benefits of the Teachers' Superannuation Fund to persons in the service of the University of New Zealand, or of the Auckland University College, Victoria College, University of Otago, Canterbury College, or Canterbury Agricultural College. Persons who become contributors to the said fund under the said section 3 receive, in respect of each year of their service prior to the passing of the Act, an increase of retiring-allowance equal to a one-hundred-and-twentieth part of their salary.

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Section 5 renews the right of certain persons in the Education service to become contributors to the fund. Section 6 repeals the provisions which restricted the right to receive a retiring-allowance or other payment in cases where compensation was payable under the Workers' Compensation Act in respect of an accident to a contributor to the Public Service Superannuation Fund, the Teachers' Superannuation' Fund, or the Government Railways Superannuation Fund. Section 7 authorizes the permanent appointment to the Public Service of officers who were in the service of the School Commissioners on the abolition of their office ; and sections 8 and 9 increase to £48,000 and £17,000 respectively the annual contribution by the Government to the Public Service and Teachers' Superannuation Funds. 1912, No. 45. The Railways Authorization Act, 1912 : This Act authorizes the construction of the railways mentioned in the schedule to the extent therein specified. 1912, No. 46. The Reserves and other Lands Disposal and Public Bodies Empowering Act, 19.12 : The principal purpose of this Act is to remove existing restrictions upon the disposition of certain specified reserves and other lands which cannot be dealt with without special legislative authority. 1912, No. 47. The New Zealand State-guaranteed Advances Amendment Act, 1912 : This Act deals exclusively with advances to local authorities. Section 2 fixes the rate of interest chargeable to a local authority at | per centum more than the rate at which the money was actually raised by the Superintendent. Section 3 authorizes a local authority, without further consent of ratepayers, to raise a loan at a higher rate of interest than that specified in the consent. Section 6 limits and defines the public works in respect of which loans may hereafter be granted, and section 7 provides that preference shall be given to applications for loans for the construction of roads and bridges in outlying districts. Section 8 limits to £60,000 the amount that may be advanced to a local authority within a period of three years. Section 9 provides that in each, of the next ten years there shall be set aside an amount not exceeding £250,000, to be advanced to local authorities for the construction of roads and bridges in outlying districts. In each of the first ten years of a loan granted out of money so set aside, the Minister of Finance is to pay to the Superintendent an amount, equal to 1 per cent, of the loan, and in each of the succeeding five years an amount equal to |- per cent, of the loan. The amounts so paid by the Minister of Finance are to be deducted from the amounts from time to time payable by the local authority in respect of instalments of principal and interest. 1912, No. 48. The Country Telephone-lines Act, 1912 : This Act authorizes County Councils and Road Boards to erect, acquire, maintain, and control telephone-lines connecting with any Government exchange the lands of any ratepayer within the district of the local authority concerned. For the purposes aforesaid, the local authority may raise the necessary money under the Local Bodies' Loans Act, 1908. 1912, No. 49. The Fisheries Amendment Act, 1912 : This Act provides principally for the licensing of whaling-vessels, and also of factories for converting whales into commercial products. The Act also amends the Fisheries Act, 1908, in various respects. 1912, No. 50. The Harbours Amendment Act, 1912 : This Act makes various amendments of an administrative nature in the Harbours Act, 1908. 1912, No. 51. The Monopoly Prevention Act, 1912 : This Act continues the operation of Part I of the Monopoly Prevention Act, 1908, until the 31st December, 1913. 1912, No. 52. The Appropriation Act, 1912: This Act appropriates certain specified sums of money out of the Consolidated Fund, the Public Works Fund, and other accounts, to the services of the year ending 31st March, 1913. 1912, No. 53. The Shipping and Seamen Amendment Act, 1912 : Sections 2 to 12 of this Act apply to New Zealand the provisions of the Imperial Maritime Conventions Act, 1911. The remaining sections make various amendments of the Shipping and Seamen Act, 1908. The Act is reserved for the signification of His Majesty's pleasure thereon. Local and Personal Acts. 1912, No. 1 (Local). The Tatum Trust Revocation Act, 1912 : This Act revokes the trusts declared in a marriage settlement executed by one Alice Elizabeth Nevin (now Tatum) and vests the property comprised in such trusts absolutely in favour of the said Alice Elizabeth Tatum. 1912, No. 2 (Local). The Waihou and Ohinemuri Rivers Improvement Amendment Act, 1912 : This Act removes an obscurity in the Waihou and Ohinemuri Rivers Improvement Act, 1910. 1912, No. 3 (Local). The Dunedin District Drainage and Sewerage Acts Amendment Act, 1912 : This Act authorizes the Dunedin Drainage Board to borrow an additional sum of £100,000, and otherwise extends the powers of that Board. 1912, No. 4 (Local). The Mokau Harbour Board Empowering Act, 1912 : This Act empowers the Mokau Harbour Board, with the consent of the electors, to borrow the sum of £1.000 for the purpose of rebuilding the wharf at Mokau. 1912, No. 5 (Local). The Auckland Education Reserves Act, 1912: This Act provides for the administration by the Public Trustee of certain lands in the Auckland Land District, and for the distribution of the rents and profits thereof for educational purposes. It also provides for the purchase of certain land by the Auckland Education Board to be held in trust as a playground for the public schools of Auckland.

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1912, No. 6 (Local). The Wanganui River Trust Amendment Act, 1912 : This Act confers upon the Wanganui River Trust extended powers of leasing certain lands vested in it as a public domain. 1912, No. 7 (Local). The Thomas George Macarthy Trust Act, 1.912 : This Act incorporates the Board of Trustees constituted in pursuance of the will of the late Thomas George Macarthy, of Wellington, and confers upon the said Board certain further powers necessary for the proper administration of the trust. 1912, No. 8 (Local). The Akaroa and Wainui Road District, Akaroa County, and Wairewa County Alteration of Boundaries Act, 1912 : This Act alters the boundaries of the districts of the local authorities referred to in the schedule, in the manner indicated in the schedule. 1912, No. 9 (Local). The Dilworth Trustees Acts Amendment Act, 1912 : The object of this Act is to expedite the establishment of the Dilworth Ulster Institute, and to confer upon the trustees of the will of the late James Dilworth additional powers to enable them more effectually to carry out the trusts of the said will. 1912, No. 10 (Local). The Ross Borough Council Vesting and Empowering Amendment Act, 1912 : This Act corrects an error of computation in the acreage of the land mentioned in the schedule to the Ross Borough Council Vesting and Empowering Act, 1911. 1912, No. 11 (Local). The Wellington Harbour Board Empowering Act, 1912. This Act removes certain restrictions on the leasing-powers of the Wellington Harbour Board with respect to certain land at Worser Bay, and empowers the Board to lease to the Borough of Miramar certain other land at a nominal rental to be held by the lessee for public recreation purposes. 1912, No. 12 (Local). The Westland Hospital and Charitable Aid Board Vesting and Empowering Act, 1912 : This Act vests in the Westland Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, as an endowment, certain land situated in the Westland Land District. 1912, No. 13 (Local). The Auckland Harbour Board Empowering Act, 1912 : This Act confers additional powers upon the Auckland Harbour Board and other local authorities. 1912, No. 14 (Local). The Waimairi County Differential Rate Empowering xAct, 1912 : This Act empowers the Waimairi County Council to classify lands in the Waimairi County, and to make and levy a differential rate upon such lands for drainage purposes. 1912, No. 15 (Local). The New Plymouth Huatoki Stream Diversion and Exchange Act, 1912 : This Act authorizes the exchange of certain lands vested in the Corporation of the Borough of New Plymouth for certain other lands vested in Collett and Company (Limited), a private company incorporated under the Companies Act, 1908. 1912, No. 16 (Local). The Oamaru King George's Park Reserve Vesting Act, 1912: This Act vests certain land in the Borough of Oamaru as a place of public recreation and enjoyment for the inhabitants of the Borough of Oamaru and the public generally, and defines the powers of the Council of the said borough with respect to the said land. 1912, No. 17 (Local). The Wellington and Karori Sanitation and Water-supply Act, 1912 : This Act includes within the jurisdiction of the Wellington City Council, for water-supply, drainage, sanitation, and other purposes, a part of the Borough of Karori, and extends the powers of the Wellington City Council to enable it to carry out those purposes within the said district. 1912, No. 18 (Local). The Whakatane Harbour Act, 1912 : This Act constitutes the Whakatane Harbour Board, and defines the Whakatane Harbour District. 1912, No. 19 (Local). The Tauranga Harbour Act, 1912 : This Act constitutes the Tauranga Harbour Board, and defines the Tauranga Harbour District. 1912, No. 20 (Local). The Wellington City Empowering and Amendment Act, 1912 : This Act authorizes the Wellington City Council to make by-laws fixing charges for admission to the sportsgrounds and zoological gardens situated on city reserves, subject to certain restrictions and limitations. 1912, No. 21 (Local). The Hauraki Plains Amendment Act, 1912 : This Act defines the lands upon which rates may be levied by the Minister of Lands in pursuance of the Hauraki Plains Amendment Act, 1911, and exempts certain of those lands from rates levied by the Council of the county in which they are situate. 1912, No. 22 (Local). The Auckland Harbour Board Act, 1912 : This Act empowers the Auckland Harbour Board to accept the surrender of leases of certain lands vested in it, and to issue new leases in respect thereof, to the same lessees, for a term not exceeding fifty years, subject to the stipulation that all buildings to be erected by the lessees upon the said lands shall be of a value and design approved by the Board. 1912, No. 23 (Local). The Christchurch Tramways District Amendment Act, 1912 : This Act amends in various particulars the Christchurch Tramways District Act, 1906. 1912, No. 24 (Local). The East Coast Native Trust Lands Amendment Act, 1912 : This Act provides that registered mortgages executed by the East Coast Commissioner shall have priority over all previously existing, but unregistered, mortgages executed over the lands subject to the trust. 1912, No. 25 (Local). The Kaiapoi Native Reserve Act, 1912 : This Act empowers the Native Appellate Court to validate in whole or in part any testamentary disposition heretofore made of any portion of the Kaiapoi Native Reserve, and, pending such validation, extends the operation of the Kaiapoi Reserve Act, 1910, but not later than the 31st December, 1913. 1912, No. 26 (Local). The Hawke's Bay Rivers Amendment Act, 1912 : This Act amends in various particulars the provisions of the Hawke's Bay Rivers Act, 1910. 1912, No. 27 (Local). The EUesmere Lands Drainage Amendment Act, 1912 : This Act vests certain land, known as the Ahuriri Lagoon, in the EUesmere Drainage Board, with power to reclaim the same or any part thereof.

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1912, No. 28 (Local). The Taieri Land Drainage Act, 1912 : This Act amends in various particulars the provisions of the Taieri Land Drainage Act, 1910. 1912, No. 29 (Local). The Westport Harbour Amendment Act, 1912 : This Act provides for the reconstitution of the Westport Harbour Board, and also authorizes that Board to expend an annual sum not exceeding £2,000 in boring for coal on any of its endowments. 1912, No. 30 (Local). The Opunake Harbour Amendment Act, -1912 : This Act vests certain lands as an endowment in the Opunake Harbour Board, and amends in various particulars the provisions of the Opunake Harbour Act, 1908. 1912, No. 31 (Local). The Napier Harbour Board Amendment and Endowment Improvement Act, 1912 : This Act extends by £30,000 the borrowing-powers of the Napier Harbour Board, and authorizes the Board to undertake certain reclamation-works.

No. 47. New Zealand, No. 183. Sir, — Government House, Wellington, sth December, 1912. I have the honour to report to you that His Excellency the Governor, Lord Islington, took his departure from New Zealand on the 2nd instant, and that subsequently, on the following day, the proper oaths having been administered to me, and the Commission to the Chief Justice published, I assumed the administration of the Government by issue of that Commission and my office as Chief Justice. I have, &c, ROBERT STOUT, The Right Hon. Lewis V. Harcourt, P. 0., &c, Administrator. Secretary of State for the Colonies.

No. 48. New Zealand, No. 190. Sir, — Government House, Wellington, 20th December, 1912. I have the honour to report that I arrived at Wellington on the 19th December, and that on the same day, the proper oaths having been administered to me at the Government Buildings, and His Majesty's Commission read, I assumed the administration of the Government of New Zealand. I have, &c, LIVERPOOL, The Right Hon. Lewis V. Harcourt, P.C., &c, Governor. Secretary of State for the Colonies.

No. 49. New Zealand, No. 191. Sir, — Government House, Wellington, 20th December, 1912. I have the honour to transmit to you the accompanying copy of a memorandum, dated the 13th December, which I have received from my Prime Minister, relative to the terms on which Australian and New Zealand frozen meat will be admitted into the United States. The enclosures referred to in the Prime Minister's memorandum are also enclosed. I have, &c, LIVERPOOL, The Right Hon. Lewis V. Harcourt, P.C., &c, Governor. Secretary of State for the Colonies.

Enclosures. Prime Minister's Office, Wellington, 13th December, 1912. Memorandum for His Excellency the Administrator of the Government. The Prime Minister presents his compliments to His Excellency the Administrator, and begs to inform him that information has been received by the New Zealand Government that communications have

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passed between the United States Government and His Majesty's Ambassador at Washington in regard to the terms on which Australian and New Zealand frozen meat will be admitted into the United States. It is understood that the inspection-tag employed by the Commonwealth of Australia for affixing to carcases after they have been passed for export has been accepted by the United States Government as sufficient to comply with the sanitary regulations governing the admission of meat, but that in regard to New Zealand further information is being sought from the, British Embassy as to the system of meat-inspection in force here before the Dominion's meat-inspection tag will be accepted. In case His Majesty's representatives at Washington have not already supplied the desired particulars, there is forwarded herewith, for transmission to the proper quarter, copies of the Acts and regulations in force here, and of a memorandum explanatory of our system of meat-inspection. Specimens of the tags employed for affixing to carcases that have passed inspection are also attached. It is respectfully desired that these enclosures be forwarded to His Majesty's Government, and that the decision of the United States authorities be communicated to the New Zealand Government in due course. W. F. Massey, Prime Minister.

Notes on the System op Inspection of Meat for Export from New Zealand. The law relating to the slaughtering and inspection of meat intended for export is contained in the Slaughtering and Inspection Act, 1908, and the Slaughtering and Inspection Amendment Act, 1910, two copies of each of which, and of the regulations under the main Act, are attached. It will be seen that all meat for export must be slaughtered under Government inspection at a registered meat-export slaughterhouse, abattoir, or slaughterhouse at which a special Government Inspector is appointed. Almost the whole of the meat exported is slaughtered at meat-export slaughterhouses, the quantity exported from other places being very small. The meat slaughtered at the abattoirs is used almost solely for consumption within New Zealand. The arrangement for special Inspectors at certain slaughterhouses is designed to meet the case of smaller works where not sufficient slaughtering is done to keep an Inspector wholly occupied, and where, consequently, the fees imposed on meat-export slaughterhouses for inspection would press unduly heavily. The system is intended to afford relief in fees, and does not mean a different standard of inspection. Very little meat, however, from such works is exported. Slaughterhouses. —Great attention is paid to sanitary conditions at meat-export slaughterhouses, &c. Before a license is issued the site and plan of the building are inspected and approved. As a rule, for all the larger buildings the advice of the Government's expert officers is sought and given. The provision of good drainage, and of a plentiful supply of pure water, and the maintenance of cleanliness are insisted upon, and it will be noted that the Act gives full powers to Inspectors in this direction. Practically the whole of the slaughtering premises are constructed on the openchamber system, similar to that adopted in modern Continental abattoirs, thus enabling the Inspectors to have the whole of the slaughtering operations continuously under observation. There are in this country thirty-one meat-export slaughterhouses and three slaughterhouses at which the system of special inspection is in operation. A list of meat-export slaughterhouses is attached, giving the names, locations, and also the capacity of each for storing and freezing carcases. Inspection of Meat. —As previous!}' stated, all meat exported must be slaughtered under the supervision of Inspectors in the employ of the Government. The work is intrusted only to fully qualified veterinarians, every one of those inspecting at meat-export works being a member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, London. The system of inspection is very sound and very complete, and no effort is spared to ensure that all meat exported is in every way fit for human consumption. It involves ante- and post-mortem examination. There is a system of supervision of the Inspectors themselves, who are impressed with the need of the utmost vigilance in their inspection. The penalty for any dereliction in this respect is removal from the service; and this rule has been enforced in one or two cases that have occurred, even though only a small quantity of meat escaped the Inspector's notice, and that during a time of rush. This is indicative of the Government's intention to maintain the efficiency of its inspection service. After being passed a tag is affixed to each carcase of mutton and lamb and to each quarter of beef, certifying that the meat is free from disease. The tag is invalid without the Veterinary Inspector's signature thereon. Specimens are attached. Quality and Health of Live-stock. —The average quality of the animals slaughtered for export, both cattle and sheep, is of a high standard, both pastoralists and meat-exporting companies realizing how important it is that the high reputation already obtained by New Zealand meat should not only be maintained, but, if possible, still further improved upon. The live-stock of New Zealand is remarkably free from serious disease, as compared with the condition existing in other countries. Inspection of Live-stock. —ln addition to the inspection of live-stock on slaughter, powers are conferred for the inspection of living animals on the farm. Copies of this Act —the Stock Act, 1908— are enclosed. It will be seen that this gives wide powers to Inspectors, and enables the Government not only to maintain a close supervision over the health of live-stock, but also to deal effectively with any outbreak of contagious disease that may arise. A large staff of Inspectors carries out the provisions of this Act. Note regarding Operation of certain Sections of the Slaughtering and Inspection Act. —Sections 38-41 of the Slaughtering and Inspection Act, 1908, provide for the issue of meat-export certificates before meat can be exported from the Dominion. Certain provisions have to be complied with before the certificate can be issued, and amongst these it is necessary that the meat should be graded by Govern-

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ment Graders. It was, however, found that there were difficulties in the way of establishing Government grading. The meat-export companies had already established grades of their own, which were known on the markets, and on which the commercial transactions of the companies were based. This private grading was working satisfactorily, and it was decided not to alter the system. The abovequoted sections have therefore never been put into operation as far as the issue of meat-export certificates is concerned.

No. 50. New Zealand, No. 192. Sir, — Government House, Wellington, 27th December, 1912. With reference to my telegram of the 23rd December, notifying the willingness of my Government to participate in the extended proposal for Imperial co-operation in the investigation of noxious insect-pests, I have the honour to transmit to you the accompanying copy of the memorandum received from my Prime Minister, the substance of which was contained in my telegram above referred to. I have, &c, LIVERPOOL, The Right Hon. Lewis V. Harcourt, P.C., &c, Governor. Secretary of State for the Colonies.

Enclosure. Prime Minister's Office, Wellington, 18th December, 1912. Memorandum for His Excellency the Governor. The Prime Minister presents his compliments, and, with reference to despatch No. 286, of the 3rd October, 1912, from His Majesty's Secretary of State for the Colonies, inquiring as to whether New Zealand will participate in the extended proposal, for Imperial co-operation in the investigation of insect-pests, begs to state that he considers the Dominion will benefit from adherence to the scheme, and recommends that New Zealand should signify its willingness to do so, and to contribute £200 per annum towards the expenses of the undertaking, on the understanding that the position be reviewed at the end of three years. With regard to representations on the central committee, which will be intrusted with the carry-ing-out of the proposal, the Prime Minister thinks that the suggestion made at the Conference held in London should be adopted —namely, that New Zealand should nominate some member of the present Entomological Research Committee to represent it in London, and that the entomological officer in New Zealand be ex officio a member. Steps can be taken to nominate the Dominion's London representative on learning that the Imperial organization has been definitely decided upon. W. F. Massey.

No. 51. New Zealand, No. 3. Sir, — Government House, Wellington, 16th January, 1913. With reference to your despatch of the 15th November, No. 336, intimating that the National Health Insurance Joint Committee are desirous of obtaining information as to the general conditions of health insurance in the oversea dominions, and asking for details on the subject in so far as it concerns New Zealand, I have the honour to transmit to you the accompanying copy of a memorandum which I have received from my Prime Minister, together with the information referred to in the memorandum. I have, &c, LIVERPOOL, The Right Hon. Lewis V. Harcourt, P. 0., &c, Governor. Secretary of State for the Colonies.

A.-2, 1913 No. 92.

Enclosure. Prime Minister's Office. Wellington, 14th January, 1913. Memorandum for His Excellency the Governor. With reference to the despatch from the Secretary of State, No. 336, of the 15th. November, 1912, the Prime Minister presents his compliments to His Excellency the Governor, and begs to transmit the following information :—

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1. Sections 32 and 33 of the National Insurance Act relate — (a.) To the transfer of insured persons to foreign and colonial societies ; and (b.) The transfer values of emigrants. 2. (a.) In New Zealand a system of State health insurance is in operation, termed the " National Provident Fund," administered by the Friendly Societies Department under a Board nominated by the Governor. The fund is voluntary and contributory in character, and provides for the undermentioned benefits, payable through the Post Office, which also collects the contributions of those joining. The benefits are : Maternity allowance up to £6 ; incapacity allowance after three months' incapacity where there are children ; allowances to children on death of a contributor ; and a pension. (&.) The friendly societies in New Zealand administer the most popular form of health insurance. They are mainly offshoots of the British orders, and conduct their affairs on similar lines. It is with the societies only that reciprocal arrangements in terms of the above sections of the British Act could be made, possibly through the medium of this office. The benefits are generally, as in England : Medical attendance (but covering the family) ; sick-allowance ; funeral allowance The societies are subject to the Friendly Societies Act, 1909, which is practically a copy of the Imperial Act of 1896, but the New Zealand Act imposes more stringent requirements as to audits and valuations. The following documents are enclosed. : Copies of the Friendly Societies Act, 1909 ; the National Provident Fund Act, 1910 ; and the last Annual Report of Registrar of Friendly Societies (which furnishes particulars of all societies operating in New Zealand). The rules and constitutions of the Manchester Unity Independent Order of Odd Fellows and of the Ancient Order of Foresters follow very closely those of the British orders. 3. Copies of all printed matter relating to the National Provident Fund's operations are enclosed. 11. D. Bell, For Prime Minister.

No. 52. New Zealand, No. 4. Sir, — Government House, Wellington, 17th January, 1913. With reference to your despatch, No. 348, of the 22nd November, on. the subject of the appointment of Mr. H. R. Spence as Commercial Expert and Accredited Inquiry Agent for the New Zealand Department of Trade and Customs, with headquarters in London, I have the honour to inform you that I have been requested by my Prime Minister to convey the thanks of the Government of New Zealand for the courtesy which it is proposed to extend to Mr. Spence in connection with his inquiries. I have, &c, LIVERPOOL, The Right Hon. Lewis V. Harcourt, P.C., &c, Governor. Secretary of State for the Colonies.

A.-2, 1913 No. 96.

No. 53. New Zealand, No. 15. Sir, — Government House, Wellington, 6th February, 1913. With reference to your despatch, No. 313, of the 30th October, on the subject of the International Convention for the Suppression of the White Slave Traffic, I have the honour to inform you, by request of my Prime Minister, that the Government desire that Article 11 may bs made applicable to New Zealand. I have, &c, LIVERPOOL, The Right Hon. Lewis V. Harcourt, P.C., &c, Governor. Secretary of State for the Colonies.

No. 54. New Zealand, No. 18. Sir, — Government House, Wellington, 7th February, 1913. With reference to your despatch, No. 347, of the 21st November, forwarding a copy of a despatch from the Deputy Governor-General of the Dominion of Canada giving the views of his Government on the subject of the publication of dissenting opinions in the case of judgments delivered by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, and asking for an expression of the wi-hes of my Government

A.-2, 1013 No. 95.

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on the subject, I have the honour to transmit to you the accompanying copy of a memorandum which I have received from the Prime Minister, explaining the views of my Ministers on this question. I have, &c, LIVERPOOL, The Right Hon. Lewis V. Harcourt, P.C., &c, - Governor. of State for the Colonies. Enclosure. Prime Minister's Office, Wellington, 3rd February, 1913. Memorandum for His Excellency the Governor. The Prime Minister presents his compliments, and, in reply to despatch No. 347 of the 21st November. 1912, from the Right Hon. the Secretary of State for the Colonies, requesting an expression of the wishes of His Excellency's Ministers on the subject of the publication of dissenting opinions in the case of judgments delivered by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, desires to acquaint His Excellency that Ministers have given careful consideration to the question, and have arrived at the conclusion that the practice hitherto followed in regard to dissenting opinions should not be departed from. They consider that the practice of rendering a single judgment, and excluding the expression of dissenting judgments, is beneficial and an advantage, as the single judgment prepared by one Judge and revised by all the others is generally worded with precision, and is so expressed as to be a guide to lawyers. His ■ Excellency's Ministers are also of opinion that the publication of the one judgment of the Privy Council is authoritative and conclusive, and affords no support to any one who doubts its wisdom. They think that the publication of dissenting judgments would tend to keep a controversy alive that would probably cease if the single judgment only were published ; and that, in any case, there is little utility in publishing opinions"which for all practical purposes must be regarded as unsound. W. F. Massey, Prime Minister.

No. 55. New Zealand, No. 19. Sir, — Government House, Wellington, 13th February, 1913. With reference to your despatch of the 6th December, No. 367, relative to the Dominions Royal Commission, I have the honour to transmit to you the accompanying copy of a memorandum which I have received from my Prime Minister, intimating that the proposals mentioned in your despatch are agreed to by the Government of this Dominion. I have, &c, LIVERPOOL, The Right Hon. Lewis V. Harcourt, P.C., &c, Governor. Secretary of State for the Colonies.

Enclosure. Prime Minister's Office, Wellington, 11th February, 1913. Memorandum for His Excellency the Governor. The Prime Minister presents his compliments, and, in returning despatch No. 367, of the 6th December, covered by G.H. 40/1913 (Dominions Royal Commission), begs to acquaint His Excellency that the Government agree to the proposal that the cost of providing a substitute for the Secretary in the Department from which he is lent shall form part of the divisible expenses of the Commission. A sufficient number of copies of reports of evidence of the Commission will be taken in the manner indicated in the despatch, and corrected copies will be sent to England by the Secretary, to be printed there. As already intimated to the Governor, arrangements will be made to place the Secretary to the Commission in funds while in this Dominion, to enable him to meet the expenses of the tour through this country. W. F. Massey, Prime Minister.

No. 56. New Zealand, No. 25. Sir, — Government House, Wellington, 21st February, 1913. With reference to my telegram of the 12th February, I have the honour to inform you that I have received messages of sympathy from the Congregational Union of New Zealand, the Oamaru Branch of the Overseas Club, and Mr. Arthur

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Coombes, Working-men's Home, Auckland, in connection with the disaster which has befallen Captain Scott and his comrades in the recent Antarctic Expedition. I have, &c, LIVERPOOL, The Right Hon. Lewis V. Harcourt, P.C., &c, Governor. Secretary of State for the Colonies.

No. 57. New Zealand, No. 27. Sir, — Government House, Wellington, 21st February, 1913. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch, No. 7, of the 3rd January, relative to the question of preventing the importation into the British oversea dominions, colonies, and protectorates of foreign-made gold and silver articles bearing fraudulent imitations of British assay marks. 2. With regard to the request contained in the second paragraph of your despatch, I am advised by my Ministers that instructions will be issued to all ports of entry in. New Zealand to prohibit the importation of goods bearing fraudulent imitation of British assay marks, such being a false trade description within the meaning of the Patents, Designs, and Trade-marks Act, 1908. Ministers would be obliged if at least one dozen further copies of the particulars of marks used by the London Goldsmiths' Company and the Assay Offices at Birmingham, Chester, Dublin, Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Sheffield could be furnished, as the number of copies enclosed in your despatch is not sufficient to go round. I have, &c, LIVERPOOL, The Right Hon. Lewis V. Harcourt, P.C., &c, Governor. Secretary of State for the Colonies.

No. 58. New Zealand, No. 34. Sir, — Government House, Wellington, sth March, 1913. With reference to your despatch, No. 381, of the 19th December, conveying a copy of a Note from the French Ambassador inviting my Government to be represented at the International Congress of Physical Education to be held in Paris in March, of this year, I have the honour to inform you, by request of my Prime Minister, that the High Commissioner for New Zealand in London has been requested to represent the Dominion at the Congress, and to forward in due course the publications in connection therewith. I have, &c, LIVERPOOL, The Right Hon. Lewis V. Harcourt, P.C., &c, Governor. Secretary of State for the Colonies.

No. 59. New Zealand, No. 39. Sir, — Government House, Wellington, 18th March, 1913. I have the honour to transmit to. you the accompanying copy of a communication which I have received from my Prime Minister, asking me to acquaint you that Mr. J. G. H. Moore, of Buenos Aires, has been appointed honorary New Zealand Government Representative in Argentina, and that it is considered desirable that the British Minister in that country should be notified of the appointment, and requested to afford Mr. Moore assistance in carrying out his duties. I have, &c, LIVERPOOL, The Right Hon. Lewis V. Harcourt, P. 0., &c, Governor. Secretary of State for the Colonies.

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No. 60. New Zealand, No. 40. Sir, — Government House, Wellington, 18th March, 1913. With reference to your despatch, No. 387, of the 24th December last, on the subject of the preparation by the Education Departments of the self-governing dominions of educational monographs, I have the honour to inform you, by request of my Prime Minister, that the New Zealand Education Department is taking the necessary action, and that the monograph will be prepared and forwarded in due course. I have, &c, LIVERPOOL, The Right Hon. Lewis V. Harcourt, P. 0., &c, Governor. Secretary of State for the Colonies.

A.-2, 1913, No. 100.

No. 61. New Zealand, No. 48. Sir, — Government House, Wellington, 3rd April, 1913. With reference to your despatch of the 31st January, No. 55, transmitting, for the information of my Ministers, copies of despatches from the Governor-General of Canada and the Governor of Newfoundland on the subject of uniformity in accident-compensation law throughout the Empire, I have the honour to inform you that the following is a copy of a minute which I have received from my Prime Minister on the subject: — " The Prime Minister presents his compliments to His Excellency the Governor, and begs to state that the correspondence contained in this despatch has been perused. It is noted that the general opinion of the Governments of the various dominions of the Crown goes to show that there would be considerable difficulty in bringing about uniformity respecting accident-compensation law. The New Zealand Government will, however, be prepared to favourably consider any further proposal that may be made in the future on the subject." I have, &c, LIVERPOOL, The Right Hon. Lewis V. Harcourt, P. 0., &c, Governor. Secretary of State for the Colonies.

A.-2, 1913, No. 105.

No. 62. New Zealand, No. 49. Sir, — Government House, Wellington, 9th April, 1913. With reference to your despatch, No. 361, of the 3rd December, 1912, relative to the question of the steps to be taken under the National Insurance Act, 1911 (1 and 2 Geo. V, eh. 55), in the case of soldiers of the British Army serving under the Governments of the oversea dominions, I have the honour to transmit to you the accompanying copy of a memorandum which I have received from my Prime Minister, reporting that the Government of New Zealand have agreed to accept the charge of Ijd. per week for each soldier employed on loan from the Imperial Forces for service in this Dominion, thus relieving the Army Council of the obligation. 2. It will be observed that a supply of the necessary forms and cards is desired at as early a date as possible. I have, &c, LIVERPOOL, The Right Hon. Lewis V. Harcourt, P.C., &c, Governor. Secretary of State for the Colonies.

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No. 63. New Zealand, No. 50. Sir, —■ Government House, Wellington, 10th April, 1913. With reference to your despatch, No. 21, of the Bth January, on the subject of the carrying of colours by regiments of the New Zealand Territorial Force, I have the honour to inform you, in answer to the concluding paragraph of your despatch, that my Ministers concur in the proposal that the 11th New Zealand Regiment be permitted to retain its original title of " Taranaki Rifles," and to keep possession of the private colours presented to it by the ladies of Taranaki so long as it does not carry colours whilst retaining that designation. I have, &c, LIVERPOOL, The Right Hon. Lewis V. Harcourt, P.C., &c, Governor. Secretary of State for the Colonies.

A..-2, 1913, No. 104.

No. 64. New Zealand, No. 56. Sir, — Government House, Wellington, 23rd April, 1913. With reference to your despatch, No. 52, of the 30th January last, and to previous correspondence on the subject of the International Sanitary Convention signed at Paris on the 17th January, 1912, I have the honour to transmit to you the accompanying copy of a memorandum received from my Prime Minister, intimating that the Government of New Zealand is prepared to adhere to the articles of the said Convention. I have, &c, LIVERPOOL, The Right Hon. Lewis V. Harcourt, P.C., &c, Governor. Secretary of State for the Colonies.

No. 65. New Zealand, No. 58. Sir, — Government House, Wellington, 24th April, 1913. With reference to your despatch, No. 78, of the 21st February, and to my telegram of the 18th March, relative to the restrictions on the importation of livestock into this Dominion from Great Britain, I have the honour to transmit to you the accompanying copy of a memorandum, dated 11th April, which I have received from my Prime Minister on the subject. 2. In view, however, of your telegram of the 3rd April, relating more particularly to the question of restrictions in connection with the importation of stock shipped from Liverpool and the Counties of Durham and Northumberland, the matter has again been carefully considered by my Government, and I have received a further memorandum, dated 21st April, from my Prime Minister, a copy of which is enclosed. 3. It will be observed from this memorandum, the substance of which was communicated to you in my telegram of to-day's date, that, although my Government regret that no modification of the existing restrictions can at present be made, in the event of there being no further outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease during the next month they will favourably consider the question of removing the restrictions which have been imposed in respect of the whole of Great Britain. I have, &c, LIVERPOOL, The Right Hon. Lewis V. Harcourt, P.C., &c, Governor. Secretary of State for the Colonies,

A -2, 1913, No. 113.

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Enclosures. Prime Minister's Office, Wellington, 11th April, 1913. Memorandum for His Excellency the Governor. The Prime Minister presents his compliments, and, with reference to Government House despatch No. 269, of 1913, enclosing a communication of the 21st February from the Secretary of State for the Colonies, covering a copy of a letter from the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries on the subject of the restrictions on the importation of live-stock into this Dominion from Great Britain, begs to inform His Excellency that up to the present the Government have not been able to recommend the removal of the restrictions, but shall be glad to do so whenever it is considered that such a course can be safely pursued. Immediately the restrictions are cancelled His Excellency will be advised, in order that a cablegram may be sent to His Majesty's Government in accordance with the wish expressed by the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries in the concluding paragraph of its communication. W. F. Massey, Prime Minister.

Prime Minister's Office, Wellington, 21st April, 1913. Memorandum for His Excellency the Governor. The Hon. the Prime Minister presents his compliments to His Excellency, and in reply to His Excellency's memorandum of the 4th instant, embodying a cablegram received from the Secretary of State for the Colonies in respect of the restrictions placed on the importation into this Dominion of stock shipped from Liverpool and the Counties of Durham and Northumberland, begs to state that the matter has been very carefully considered, and the Government has decided that no modification can be made at present. If, however, there are no further outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease during the next month, the Government will favourably consider the question of removing the restrictions which have been imposed in respect of the whole of Great Britain. W. F. Massey, Prime Minister.

No. 66. New Zealand, No. 59. Sir, — Government House, Wellington, 24th April, 1913. With reference to your despatch, No. 66, of the 12th February, enclosing, for the information of my Ministers, copies of a Board of Trade circular respecting the examination in Great Britain of masters and mates in the mercantile marine and skippers and second hands of fishing-vessels, I have the honour to inform you that my Government propose to make similar regulations in New Zealand, and to make provision that such regulations come into operation on the Ist December next. I have, &c, LIVERPOOL, The Right Hon. Lewis V. Harcourt, P. 0., &c, Governor. Secretary of State for the Colonies. ■j

A.-2, 1913. No. 108.

No. 67. New Zealand, No. 60. Sir, — Government House, Wellington, 24th April, 1913. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch of the 15th November, No. 339, inquiring whether my Government would be disposed, in principle, to consider favourably the organization of an Imperial group of exhibits in connection with the San Francisco Exhibition. 2. I am requested by my Ministers to acquaint you that the matter has been duly considered, and that they are prepared to join in an Imperial group if it is found practicable to arrange for such an organization. I have, &c, LIVERPOOL, The Right Hon. Lewis V. Harcourt, P.C., &c, Governor. Secretary of State for the Colonies. Approximate Cost of Paper. —Preparation, not given ; printing (1,500 copies), £25.

A.-2, 1913, No. 93.

Authority : John Mackay, Government Printer, Wellington.—l9l3.

Price, Is.]