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r : Enclosure. Association of Chambers of Commerce of the United Kingdom, Parliament Mansions, Victoria. Street, S.W. 17th June, 1908; Uniform Shipping Laws. My Lord, I am desired by the Executive Council to forward to your Lordship the following resolution which was unanimously adopted at the '-ist Annual Meeting of this Association, representing 111 Chambers of Comnierce. " That in tue opinion of this Association legislation in Australia and other Colonies of the Empire affecting British Ships owned in the United Kingdom should not, except as regards the coastal trade df the Colony, impose upon such ships any restrictions beyond those posed upon them by the Imperial Merchant Shipping Act." The Executive Council trust that your Lordship may be disposed to communicate with the , Australian and other Colonies the substance of this resolution in order to avoid as far as possible the imposition of any restrictions affecting British ships other than those which are contained in the Merchant Shipping Acts of this country. I have etc., Edward W. Fithian, The Rt. Hon. The Karl of Crewe K.C. Secretary. Secretary of State for the Colonies.

No. 22. No. 123. My Lord, Downing Street, 10th July, 1908. With reference to my predecessor's despatch Miscellaneous of the 4th of September 1907, I have the honour to request you to inform your Ministers that in accordance with the proposal made by Mr. Lloyd George at the Colonial Conference in 1907 in regard to the appointment of Commercial Agents in the selfgoverning Dominions Mr. C. H. F. Rolleston has been appointed His Majesty's Trade Commissioner in New Zealand and will proceed .shortly to the Dominion to take up his post. 2. I also enclose a list of the gentlemen who have been appointed as correspondents of the Commercial Intelligence Branch oi the Board of Trade in New Zealand. 3. I shall be glad if your Ministers will afford to the Commissioner any assistance in their power. 4. The Commissioner has been instructed to report immediately on matters of importance to British Commercial interests and to use his discretion as to telegraphing the provisions of any bills affecting them. In the case of Government measures he is instructed to ascertain in each case whether the information has been or will be telegraphed by the Governor and to secure that any information telegraphed by him shall be from a Government source. 5. In this connection I desire to express the hope that Your Lordship will, as in the past, continue to report fully by telegram or by despatch on all commercial matters which directly or indirectly involve political issues. I have etc., CREWE. Governor, the Rt. Hon. Lord Plunket, K.C.M.G., K.C.V.O.

Enclosure. List of Correspondents in New Zealand of the Commercial Intelligence Branch op His Majesty's Board of Trade. Wellington . . .. Mr S. Carroll, Secretary, Wellington Chamber of Commerce. Dunedin .. .. Mr Peter Barr, Secretary, Dunedin Chamber of Commerce. Auckland .. . . Mr A. J . Denniston, Secretary, Auckland Chamber of Commerce. In addition to the above the S cretary for Industries and Commerce Wellington also acts in an honorary capacity as Correspondent of the Commercial Intelligence Branch of the Board of Trade.