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A.—2

rT No." 23.' No. 151. My Lord, Downing Street, 3rd September, 1908. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch No. 48 of the 22nd of June on the subject of Merchant Shipping legislation. 2. I observe that your Ministers are of opinion that it would not be advisable for the New Zealand Government to promise the Imperial authorities that it would not initiate legislation imposing restrictions upon British ships not registered in nor engaged in the coastal trade beyond those imposed by the Imperial Merchant Shipping Acts, as such a promise might hamper future legislation especially as regards ships engaged in the inter-Colonial trade. 3. I presume, however, that your Ministers do not desire to depart from the 9th Resolution passed at the Merchant Shipping Conference of 1907 by which it was agreed that the vessels to which the conditions imposed by the law of Australia or New Zealand were applicable should be vessels registered in the Colony while trading therein, and vessels wherever registered while trading on the coast of the Colony. Sir Joseph Ward concurred in this resolution. It is clear that if the Parliament of New Zealand desires to impose restrictions on vessels engaged in Inter-Colonial trade, the Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia will have an equal right to impose such restrictions as may commend themselves to the Parliament on the same vessels, with the result of inevitable confusion of authority. I would therefore suggest that if it becomes necessary in the opinion of your Government to regulate further than is already done by Imperial legislation, vessels engaged in Inter-Colonial trade which are not registered in the Dominion and do not engage in its coasting trade, your Government should communicate their wishes to His Majesty's Government in order that the matter may be fully discussed in conjunction with the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia and, if necessary, further Imperial legislation be passed. Such a procediire would, I think, be in accordance with the views expressed by your Prime Minister at the Imperial Shipping Conference. I have, etc., CEEWE. Governor, the Rt. Hon. Lord Plunket, K.C.M.G., K.C.V.O.

A.-l, 1909, No. 8.

No. 24. New Zealand, No. 163. My Lord, Downing Street, 2nd October, 1908. With reference to Mr. Chamberlain's Circular despatch of the 15th of March, 1901, I have the honour to request that you will inform your Ministers that applications continue to be received in this department from time to time for information with regard to the requirements of the law in the Dominions in respect of the authentication of signatures to documents (e.g. Powers of Attorney) executed in England and elsewhere out of the Dominions with a view to, making such documents receivable in the Law Courts of the Dominion or for official purposes.. 2. I shall therefore be glad' if you will be so good as to ascertain from your Ministers whether the information on this subject which was furnished in reply to Mr. Chamberlain's despatch under reference is still correct. If any alterations have been made in the law since the date of the reply to that despatch I shall be glad to receive a brief statement of the existing legislation on the subject. I have etc., CREWE. Governor, the Rt. Hon. Lord Plunket, K.C.M.G., K.C.V.O.

No. 25. No. 172. My Lord, Downing Street, 16th October, 1908. With reference to your telegram of the Ist of September, I have the honour to transmit to you for the information of your Minister's the accompanying copy