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No. 66. New Zealand, No. 60. Sir, — Government House, Wellington, 31st March, 1915. I have the honour to inform you that I have received a communication from my Prime Minister acquainting me that a cable was recently received from His Majesty's Ambassador at Tokio, giving particulars relative to Japanese rape-

seed, considerable quantities of which had been offered to New Zealand merchants. 2. The Prime Minister states that the information supplied by the Ambassador proved to be exactly what was required to enable New Zealand merchants to judge whether the seed would be suitable for the requirements of this Dominion, and it was therefore of the greatest value to the farming community. Rape forms one of the most important of the green fodders used for fattening sheep and lambs in this country, and the question of obtaining supplies of seed, seriously affected by the outbreak of war, is one of the greatest importance. 3. I shall be glad if you will be so good as to-cause an expression of the thanks of the New Zealand Government to be conveyed to the British Ambassador for the valuable information with which he has supplied them. I have, &c, LIVERPOOL. The Right Hon. Lewis V. Harcourt, P.C., &c, Governor. Secretary of State for the Colonies.

No. 67. New Zealand, No. 64. Sir, — Government House, Wellington, 31st March, 1915. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch, No. 45, A of the 4th February, on the subject of the proposed scheme for the collection of employers' contributions due under the National Insurance Acts in respect of seamen who neither are domiciled nor have places of residence in the United Kingdom or who hold certificates of exemption. 2. My Ministers note that owing to thefexceptional conditions produced by the war the Commissioners desire that the proposed change in the method of collection of contributions affecting shipowners should be postponed for the present. My Ministers observe, however, that prior to the receipt of this despatch under reply, the shipping-masters in New Zealand received supplies of stamps from the Imperial authorities and, in accordance with the arrangement made, have been selling them for some little time past. In some cases shipmasters have stated that having been told in England that they could obtain stamps in New Zealand they have not brought any out with them. Should any of them follow a similar course in future and find that the stamps are not being sold here, the masters would be in a difficulty about complying with the law in the matter of affixing stamps when men are discharged in the Dominion. 3. Under these circumstances, whichjmy Ministers have asked me to explain to you, the sale of stamps will be continued at the various shipping offices to which supplies have been sent from England, pending the receipt of a reply from you. I have, &c. LIVERPOOL, The Right Hon. Lewis V. Harcourt,|P.C, &c. Governor. Secretary of Stateffor the Colonies.

A.-2, 1915. No. 85.

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