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the New Zealand Parliament by the Treasurer in which it was proposed that all travellers on entering that colony from Australia or elsewhere should pay a poll-tax of £100 (afterwards reduced to £50) before he could start doing business; the payment of this sum to give him the right to trade in New Zealand for one year. This Bill has now passed the second reading, and is already being enforced, several travellers having to pay the £50. This Bill, if persisted in, will be a hindrance of a grave character to doing business with that colony. As you know, I visit New Zealand once a year, and stay there for five or six weeks; my expenses for this period are never under £100, and I certainly could not afford to pay an additional £50 for the privilege of going there. lam in hopes that, as I take no orders, I may be able to escape the tax, and I intend writing to the Commissioner of Taxes in New Zealand on the matter before I again visit the colony. " In the meantime, I think the matter ought to be brought under the notice of the Colonial Secretary in London." It appears to us that a poll-tax upon any class of persons entering the New Zealand or other colonies is a new departure in the way of interference with the freedom of travel to which we have been accustomed ; and that such a tax as is referred to should be levied upon travellers as a class going to New Zealand for commercial purposes appears to us to be so in restraint of trade, and consequently detrimental to the interests of the colony and the Mother-country, that it should not be countenanced by the Government. We shall be pleased to hear that the subject will receive your consideration, if it has not already done so. We have, &c, William Hunt and Sons, The Brades (Limited), . Per George Heaton, Chairman. The Right Hon. the Secretary of State for the Colonies, London.

No. 32. (New Zealand, General.) My Lord, — Downing Street, 31st December, 1895. Eeferring to the seventh paragraph of my general despatch of the 28th ultimo, on the subject of trade, I have the honour to transmit to you, for your information and guidance, a copy of a letter which I have caused to be addressed to the Agent-General for New Zealand, requesting suggestions as to the form which the return of colonial export trade should ultimately take. I have, &c, J. CHAMBEELAIN. Governor the Right Hon. the Earl of Glasgow, G.C.M.G.

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Enclosure. Sic, — Downing Street, 31st December, 1895. You will have observed from the seventh paragraph of Mr. Chamberlain's despatch to the Governors of colonies on the subject of trade that he has in contemplation a further despatch asking for a return of any products of the colonies of the British Empire which might advantageously be exported to the United Kingdom or other parts of the Empire but do not at present find a sufficient market there, with any information in regard to quality, prices, or freight which may be useful to British importers. Before Mr. Chamberlain formulates such a despatch, and in order that he may have the best advice from each colonial Government as to the form in which the contemplated return should be made, he desires me to ask you to be good enough to bring the matter before the Government of New Zealand, inviting them to carefully consider the subject themselves and to bring it to the notice of the Chambers of Commerce of New Zealand. I am to request you, when you have received the views and suggestions of your Ministry, to be good enough to transmit them to Mr. Chamberlain, with such observations as it may occur to you to offer upon the subject. I am, &c, The Agent-General for New Zealand. Selboene.

No. 33. (New Zealand, No. 62.) My Lokd, — Downing Street, 31st December, 1895. With reference to my despatch, No. 61, of the 23rd instant, I have the honour to transmit to you, for communication to your Ministers, an extract from a letter from the Walsall and District Incorporated Chamber of Commerce, regarding a deposit of £50 required of commercial travellers entering the colony. I have, <fec, J. CHAMBERLAIN. Governor the Right Hon. the Earl of Glasgow, G.C.M.G.

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