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A.—2

Enclosures. Sir,— War Office, London S.W., 2.Bth March, 1912. I am commanded by the Army Council to acknowledge the receipt of your letter, No. 4946, dated the Ist Me,rch, 1912, on the proposed alliance of certain New Zealand regiments with regiments of the British Army. In reply, I am to invite your attention to the accompanying extfacts (from — (a) The memorandum approved by His late Majesty King Edward VII, (6) Colonial Defence Committee's memorandum No. 408 M, setting forth the general principles governing the establishment of these alliances), and to ask for further information as to the particular manner in which these New Zealand regiments comply with the conditions therein laid down. I am also to inquire which British regiment, if any, has been associated with each New Zealand regiment in war or peace. I am, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office, London S.W. B. H. Brade.

[Extract.] (a.) Memorandum showing the General Principles which should govern the Establishment of Alliances, submitted to and approved by His late Majesty. * * * * . . . and then under certain conditions which may be summarized as follows : Applications for alliances made through the dominion Governments should only be encouraged between units of the same arm, having some common associations. * * * * War Office, 21st January, 1910.

[Extract.] (6.) Colonial Defence Committee's Memorandum, No. 408 M, dated 21st July, 1909. * * * * (6.) Alliances should be permitted only between units of the same arm. (c.) Alliances should be specially encouraged between corps which have some connection or common associations, either racial, or geographical, or titular, or which have served together in peace or war. * * * *

No. 25. New Zealand, No. 105. My Lord, — Downing Street, 6th April, 1912. With reference to your despatch, No. 28, of the 23rd February, I have the honour to request you to inform your Ministers that the Government of Australia has decided to adhere to the international agreement for the suppression of obscene publications, and that the authority charged with the duties referred to in article 1 of the agreement will be the Department of External Affairs at Melbourne. 2. I have to add that the authorities in the other dominions are as follows :— Canada. —Lieutenant-Colonel A. P. Sherwood, C.M.G., M.V.0., Commissioner of Dominion Police, Ottawa. Newfoundland. —John Sullivan, Esq., J.P., Inspector-General of Constabulary. Union of South Africa. —The Chief Commissioner of South African Police, Pretoria. I have, &c, L. HAECOUET. Governor the Eight Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c.

No. 26. New Zealand, No. 106. My Lord, — Downing Street, 11th April, 1912. I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, copies of the report of a departmental committee appointed in September, 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.