A.-l

2

No. 1. New Zealand, No. 65. Sir, — Government House, Wellington, Ist April, 1915. With reference to your despatch, No. 12, of the Bth January, in which you express a desire, on behalf of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, that no sale or chartering of prize ships of over 1,000 tons should take place in New Zealand without prior reference to His Majesty's Government, I have the honour to inform you that my Ministers have taken note of the request, and that they will act in accordance therewith. I have &c, LIVERPOOL, The Right Hon. Lewis V. Harcourt, P. 0., &c, Governor. Secretary of Stat for the Colonies.

No. 2. New Zealand, No. 73. Sir, — Government House, Wellington, 24th April, 1915. In reply to your despatch, No. 51, of the sth February, I have the honour to inform yon that the Government of New Zealand concur in the proposal of His Majesty's Government to renew the existing arbitration treaty between Great Britain and the Netherlands. 1 have, &c, LIVERPOOL, The Right Hon. Lewis V. Harcourt, P.C., &c, Governor. Secretary of State for the Colonies.

No. 3. New Zealand, No. 75. Sir, — Government House, Wellington, 24th April, 1915. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch of the sth February, No. 45, inquiring on behalf of the Board of Trade whether any action has been or is likely to be taken on the report of the Shipping Com- '•*" panics' Freights and Charges Committee, which was laid before the New Zealand Parliament in October, 1914. 2. The Prime Minister, to whom I referred your despatch, lias sent me the following information on the subject : — (a.) Increase of Freights. —No action has been taken on this subject up to the present, the Government being of the same opinion as the Committee— namely, that the increased charge is to some extent justified, but that the increment should be withdrawn as soon as the conditions again become normal. (b.) Hemp Industry. —Fortunately the prices obtained for- New Zealand hemp have advanced so largely during the last few months that they are now considerably higher than before the war. There is consequently no pressing necessity for governmental action in the direction of assisting this industry. The New Zealand Trade Representative in Canada was, however, asked some time ago to look carefully into the question of wdiether the issue of a circular to possible users of New Zealand hemp in Canada would be likely to produce good results, and a reply on this point is expected at any time. (r.) Ships for Export Trade. —The Government has conducted extensive negotiations with the Imperial Government, and also with the Governments of Australia and Canada, with a view to obtaining as many ships as possible— especially those with refrigerated cargo-space—for carrying the export trade from this Dominion. Arrangements were made for the discharge of certain steamers in E«;ypt in order that they might return thence direct to New Zenland. This Government has also borne part of the cost of bringing sonic steamers to this Dominion in ballast instead of waiting for return freight.