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A.—2,

No. 16. New Zealand, No. 128. My Lord, — Downing Street, 27th March, 1914. I have the honour to transmit to Your Excellency, for the information of your Ministers, the accompanying copy of correspondence with the GovernorGeneral of the Commonwealth of Australia, on the subject whether a mechanical instrument record made in England and stamped in accordance with the Copyright Eoyalty System (Mechanical Musical Instruments) Eegulations, 1912, would require to be stamped a second time if exported to a selfgoverning Dominion. I have, &c, L. HAECOUET. Governor His Excellency the Eight Hon. the Earl of Liverpool, K.CT.M.G., M.V.0., &c.

Enclosure. Commonwealth of Australia, No. 175. My Lord, — Downing Street, 27th March, 1914. I have the honour to request Your Excellency to inform your Ministers that 1 have been in communication with the Board of Trade and the Law Officers of the Crown with regard to the question discussed in your despatch, No. 129, of the 3rd June last, as to whether a mechanical instrument record made in England and stamped in accordance with the Copyright Royalty System (Mechanical Musical Instruments) Regulations, 1912, would require to be stamped a second time if exported to Australia. 2. The Law Officers of the Crown have advised that a maker in the United Kingdom of a record which is made in compliance with section 19 of the Act, and upon which the prescribed royalty has consequently been paid to the British owner of the copyright, is not required to pay the royalty over again in any part of His Majesty's Dominions to any other owner, and that "' the owner of the copyright " in section 19 (2) means, in the case where there are different owners in different parts of the Empire, the owner "in that part in which the record is made. They also point out that the right of the owner to receive royalty depends upon the statute, and not upon the regulations, and that if, contrary to the opinion which they have expressed, the statute provides for payment twice over in the case in question, its effect cannot be altered by regulations. I have, &c., L. Harcotjrt. Governor-General His Excellency the Right Hon. Lord Dennian, G.C.M.G., X.C.V.0., <fee.

No. 17. New Zealand, No. 137. My Lord, — Downing Street, 3rd April, 1914. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of Your Excellency's despatch, No. 21, of the 12th February, and to inform you that His Majesty will not be advised to exercise his power of disallowance with respect to the following Acts of the Parliament of New Zealand : — 3 George V, No. 22 : " An Act to amend the Divorce and Matrimonial Causes Act, 1908." 4 George V, No. 69 : " An Act to amend the Divorce and Matrimonial Causes Act, 1908." I have, &c, L. HAECOUET. Governor His Excellency the Eight Hon. the Earl of Liverpool, K.C.M.G., M.A 7 .0., <tc.

No. 18. New Zealand, No. Ml. My Lord, — Downing Street, 3rd April, 1914. With reference to my telegram of the 24th February, I have the honour to transmit to Your Excellency, for the information of your Ministers, copy of a letter from the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries, enclosing an extract