A.—2

No. 53. New Zealand, No. 500. My Lord, — Downing Street, Bth September, 1915. With reference to Your Excellency's telegram of the 17th June, 1 have the honour to request you to inform your Ministers that under an exceptional arrangement made to meet the present abnormal conditions parcels for I its Majesty's ships in Home waters and for troops serving with the Expeditionary Forces have been redirected without charge by the General Post OMice, altliougn in ordinary circumstances the redirection of a parcel gives rise to fresh postage. 2. The Postmaster-General has now arranged that the same privilege should be extended to parcels for His Majesty's ships not in Home waters, and tor troops other than those serving with the Expeditionary Forces, and that when such parcels are redirected to the United Kingdom they are to be delivered without any charge for fresh postage. The Postmaster-General will waive any claim against oversea Post Offices for the sea postage on such parcels when they are transmitted, after redirection, by packets under contracl with the Imperial Post Office. 3. The benefits resulting from the foregoing arrangements would be increased, probably at little cost to the Administration concerned, if the Governments of the self-governing Dominions were to accord similar privileges of free redirection in the case of parcels for the troops and for His Majesty's ships in the Imperial services generally. I should therefore be glad if your Ministers would consider the question of adopting similar arrangements. I have, &c, A. BONAR LAW. Governor His Excellency the Right, Hon. the Earl of Liverpool, G.C.M.G., M.V.0., <fee.

A.-1, 1915, No. 39.

No. 54. New Zealand, No. 517. My Lord, — Downing Street, 20th September, lt-15 With reference to my telegram of the 7th September, I have, the honour to transmit to Your Excellency, to be laid before your Ministers, a copy of a letter from the War Office respecting the conditions on which individuals and complete aviation units from the Dominions could be accepted for service with the Royal Flying Corps. I have, &c, A. BONAR LAW. Governor His Excellency the Right Hon. the Earl of Liverpool, G.C.M.G., M.V.0., «&c.

Enclosure. Sir,— War Office, London S.W., 10th September, 1915. I am commanded by the Army Council to acknowledge receipt of the cablegram received from the Governor-General of New Zealand, dated 19th August, 1915, and the letter received from the Agent-General for Queensland, dated 23rd idem, forwarded with your letters Nos. 38387 and 39014, of the 19th and 26th ultimo respectively :' in both these communications information is asked for as to whether candidates for the Royal Flying Corps can be accepted, and on what conditions of service, pay, &c. I am to say that the Council have given this matter their careful consideration, and are of opinion that the conditions under which candidates domiciled in the Dominions, who desire to serve in the Royal Flying Corps, can be accepted should be as follows :— (a.) Those individuals who desire to serve as officers must hold commissions in the Forces of the Dominion to which they belong, and must, have accepted liability for general service overseas with the Dominion Forces. They should also be recommended by the military authorities of the Dominion concerned as suitable for service in the Royal Flying Corps. Should any individuals be specially commissioned for service with the Royal Flying Corps it is considered that they should be commissioned as 2nd Lieutenants of Infantry. These officers will be granted free passage to the United Kingdom, which should he provided by transport when accommodation is available. On arrival in the United Kingdom they will be required to undergo a course of instruction in aviation. If they graduate as pilots they will be posted to the Royal Flying Corps; but in the event of their proving unsuitable for the

26