A.—l

4

taking, however, is not intended to apply in the case of officers proceeding from New Zealand to accept commissions in the Royal Plying Corps Special Reserve, as, in the opinion of my Ministers, the pay, allowances, and pensions in respect of such officers should be a matter for the Imperial Government. I have, &o, LIVERPOOL, The Right Hon. Walter 11. Long, M.P., Governor. Secretary of State for the Colonies.

No. 4. New Zealand, No. 46. Sir, — Government House, Wellington, 30th January, 1917. With reference to my despatch, No. 14, of the 15th instant, I have the honour to transmit to you the accompanying copy of a memorandum addressed to me by the Acting Minister of Finance, to which is appended a statement showing contributions by the people of New Zealand to various war funds for the month of December, 1916. I have, &c, LIVERPOOL, The Right Hon. Walter H. Long, M.P., Governor. Secretary of State for the Colonies.

Enclosure. Minister's Office, Finance Department, Wellington, 29th. January, 1917. Memorandum for His Excellency the Governor. I have to advise Your Excellency that the stun of £15,000, being New Zealand's contribution for the relief of poor in Belgium tinder the Government scheme, for the month of December, has been transmitted by cable to the High Commissioner. In addition the following contributions have been remitted to the High Commissioner for distribution as under :— Red Cross Fund (headquarters, Order of St. John, London) :— £ a. d. £ s. d. Waipukurau Red Cross Society ... ... ... 4 4 0 Rangiwahia Red Cross Branch ... ... ... 30 0 0 North Otago Red Cross Society ... ... ... 1,140 0 0 Manaia Red Cross Society ... ... ... ... 100 0 0 Gisborne Citizens' Defence Committee ... ... 826 18 0 Wellington District British Red Cross ... 11,161 8 4 Canterbury British Red Cross ... ... ... 12,300 0 0 Auckland British Red Cross ... ... ... 4.000 (I 0 Hastings British Red Cross ... ... ... 200 0 0 Wellington Publishing Company's list ... ... 5 0 0 Pongaroa Presbyterian Sunday School ... ... 10 0 Hawke's Bay War Relief.Association ... ... 15 0 6 Balclutha Patriotic Association ... ... ... 25 2 3 i Wanganui St. John Ambulance Brigade Overseas ... 860 0 0 30,668 13 1 New 'Zealand Red Cross Fund :—■ Timaru Red Cross Society... ... ... ... 750 0 0 Hastings Women's National Reserve ... ... 50 0 0 Wellington Women's Red Cross Committee ... ... 200 0 0 Waipukurau Red Cross Society ... ... ... 1.00 0 0 Presbyterian Church, New Zealand ... ... ... 175 0 0 Marlborough Patriotic Fund ... ... ... 25 0 0 Hawera Mayoress Emergency Committee ... ... 102 12 0 Hawcra Mayor's Patriotic Fund ... ... ... 29 14 2 Quota contributions of patriotic societies for comforts ... 3,000 0 0 4,432 6 2 Overseas Club Tobacco Fund :— Palmerston North Overseas Club ... ... ... 75 0 0 British Navy Relief Fund : — Dunedin Evening Star list ... ... ... 45 (1 0 Manaia and District Patriotic Society ... ... 650 0 0 695 0 0