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High Commissioner to Right Hon. the Prime Minister. Via Suez, 8/4/10. , _ tt . . N 0 X 328 Westminster Chambers, 13 Victoria Street, .Srn,—' ' • London S.W., Bth April, 1910. With reference to the attached cutting from the New Zealand Herald, of the 4th February last, of a letter from Mr. J. H. Hayes, headed "E. A. Smith," I beg to state that Mr. Hayes communicated with this office on the 4th March, 1909, asking for information about New Zealand, and the same day the information he sought was sent to him. He did not again write direct to this office, but Mr. E. A, Smith has kindly shown me his file from which I see that Mr. Hayes wrote to him on the 6th March, 1909, enclosing two applications for reduced-rate passages, one for himself and family and one for Mrs. Alps and her three children. As Mr. Hayes gave his occupation as an. accountant and stated that he was not an agriculturist, he was clearly not eligible for reduced-rate passages, and his application was therefore of course declined. Mrs, Alps bein« over fifty years of age and her children being rather young—namely, sixteen, fourteen, and ten.tiiey were also declined. The papers show that Mr, Hayes wrote many letters afterwards, but all direct to Mr. E. A. Smith, who, it is clear, took a great deal of trouble with regard to the booking of Mr. Hayes and party for which he wrote to Mr. Smith, thanking him. It will, therefore, be seen that Mr. Hayes has no ground whatever for what he states, as on the only occasion on which he addressed this office he received prompt attention. Mr. Smith, as was usual, also furnishing shipping particulars to him. I have, &c, The Right Hon. the Prime Minister, Wellington, New Zealand. Wm. Hall-Jones.

Cutting from the New Zealand Herald, of the fth February, 1910, referred to in the High Commissioner's letter, No. 1328, of the Bth April, 1910. g [K; E. A. Smith. 1 notice correspondence has arisen and questions asked in Parliament regarding the firm of E A. Smith, and that the Government's reply is to the effect that there was no connection between E A Smith and the High Commissioner in London. As far as my experience and that of several friends is concerned, the reply of the Government is absolutely untrue. Before coming to the Dominion friends of mine and myself endeavoured to get information from the High Commissioner direct, as notified in the advertisements, but in spite of repeated efforts, were unable in any single instance to get even an acknowledgment of our letters from the High Commissioner— every reply being from E. A. Smith without exception. J- H. Hates.

R. S. Pudney, Esq., to Right Hon. the Prime Minister. 16 Wallace Street, Ponsonby, Auckland, 31st January, 1910. g IE Be E. A. Smith. I notice some carping critics on the above, and, therefore, as that firm arranged my passages to New Zealand in a most satisfactory manner, and also for the shipping of our effects after we left in a most businesslike manner also, you are quite welcome to peruse any of my correspondence or make use of it in defence. I paid them cheques to the value of over £300 (three hundred pounds sterling), for myself and others. _ _ Personally it saved a great deal of trouble. I obtained better terms also. Therefore it did not concern me who were the principals. This last voyage to New Zealand is my fourth. 1 am &c, Sir Joseph Ward, Wellington. Robert S. Pudney.

Right Hon. the Prime Minister to R. S. Pudney, Esq. Dear Sir — Prime Minister's Office, 28th February, 1910. I am in receipt of your letter of the 31st January with reference to the firm of E A Smith in London I am pleased to have your remarks relative to the satisfactory shipping arrangements carried out by that firm on your behalf, and thank you for writing to me as you have done on the subject. , „ , Your ?' *?•• T R. S. Pudney, Esq., 16 Wallace Street, Ponsonby, Auckland. J. Cx. Ward.

High Commissioner to Right Hon. the Prime Minister. No 5395. ' Westminster Chambers, 13 Victoria Street, London S.W., o ' Ist December, 1909. I have the honour to report as follows with respect to the arrangements that are now completed regarding the transfer to this Department of the shipping and emigration work hitherto carried out by Mr. E. A. Smith. On the 26th of August Mr. E. A. Smith was given notice that on the Ist of November, 1909, the whole of the work carried on by him relating to the shipping of goods purchased by the various Departments in the Dominion through this office, and the work he was carrying out with regard to the correspondence and arrangement of nominated and assisted passages would in future be done by officers of the High Commissioner's Department.