17

A.—2

No. 34. New Zealand, No. 372. My Lord,— Downing Street, Bth July, 1915. With reference to my predecessor's despatch, No. 543, of the Ist December last, I have the honour to request Your Excellency to draw your Ministers' attention to Circular No. 73 of the International Bureau of the Telegraph Union, dated 25th April, 1915, distributing satisfies of radio-tele-graphy for the year 1913, and asking to be furnished with similar statistics for the year 1914. 2. The Postmaster-General has decided that statistics relating to the United Kingdom for the year 1914 shall not be furnished to the International Bureau, and it is suggested for the consideration of your Ministers that your Government should adopt a similar course. I have, &c, A. BONAR LAW. Governor His Excellency the Right Hon. the Earl of Liverpool, G.C.M.G., M.V.0., &c.

No. 35. New Zealand, No, 377. My Lord, Downing Street, Bth July, 1915. With reference to Your Excellency's despatch, No. 51, of the 2nd April, 1914, regarding the proposed extension to British ports of the arrangements, made for foreign ports, to ensure that alterations in the lascar agreements of foreign ships shall be certified by British officers, I have the honour to transmit to Your Excellency, to be laid before your Ministers, copy of the revised draft stipulation which will in future be added to the agreement. T shall be glad if your Ministers will take steps for the issue of the necessary instructions in the matter. I have, &c, A. BONAR LAW. Governor His Excellency the Right Hon. the Earl of Liverpool, G.C.M.G., M.V.0.. &c. .

A.-1, 1915. No. 23.

Enclosure. Revised Draft Stipulation. " 1 hereby further agree that in case before arrival at, or after arrival at and before departure from, any port, of call 1 shall make any new engagement or there shall occur any discharge, transfer, leaving-behind, desertion, or death of any lascar or other native seamen under this agreement, I will (if the same shall not have been previously reported) report, such engagement, discharge, transfer, leaving-behind, desertion, or death to the officer next hereinafter mentioned —that is to say, in the case of a foreign port, the British Consular Officer at such port- and in the case of a port in the United Kingdom or in any British Dominion, colony, or possession, the Lascar Transfer Officer, or, if there is no such officer, the Superintendent, or, in the absence of a Superintendent, the Chief Customs Officer thereat ; and in the ease of a port in a British protectorate or a port in the Malay States, North Borneo, or Sarawak, the Chief Customs or Port Officer thereat; and in the case of a new engagement will attend before such officer and (by endorsement hereon, or addition hereto, or otherwise as may be convenient) in his presence enter into an agreement with the lascar or other native seaman engaged in the same form as this agreement; and in the case of a discharge, transfer, leaving-behind, desertion, or death will present this agreement to such officer for the purpose of his certifying by a memorandum thereon that such discharge, transfer, leaving-behind, desertion, or death has taken place; and in the case of a discharge, transfer, or leaving-behind that the same was authorized or unavoidable; and will pay to such officer in respect thereof the fee or fees prescribed in this behalf by the Consular Fees (Amendment) Order in Council, 1910, or by or in pursuance of any other order or law for the time being in force, or, if the certifying officer is not a Consular Officer, the same fee or fees (unless it is otherwise provided by any rule or enactment locally in force) as would have been payable under such order or law, as the case may be, if he had been such an officer."

3—A. 2.