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No. 25. New Zealand, No. 253. Government House, Wellington, Ilth September, 1923. My Lord Duke, — I have the honour to inform Your Grace that my Ministers advise me that the Audit Department of the New Zealand Government will undertake the local audit of Imperial pension-payments, as requested in your despatch, No. 147, of the 6th July, 1923. 2. Ministers note that an audit of not less than 10 per cent, of payments is suggested, but it is proposed to adopt a full audit as being more satisfactory for all parties and in line with the examination of war pensions in New Zealand. 3. The accounts for Imperial pension-payments in respect of the months of April, May, and June, 1923, have been already forwarded to London, and local audit will therefore take effect from the Ist July, 1923. I have, &c, JELLICOE, Governor-General. His Grace the Duke of Devonshire, K.G., P.O, G.C.M.G., G.C.V.0., &c, Secretary of State for the Colonies.

No. 26. New Zealand, No. 271. Government House, Wellington, 28th September, 1923. My Lord Duke, — With reference to Your Grace's despatch, Dominions No. 268, of the 20th July, relative to the use of preservatives and artificial colouring-matters in food and drink, I have the honour to transmit to Your Grace the accompanying copy of the regulations under the Sale of Food and Drugs Act, which, my Ministers inform me, apply to foodstuffs for sale in New Zealand, whether manufactured here or imported. 2. Preservatives. —The general regulations relating to preservatives commence on page 6, but the conditions pertaining to the use of preservatives in any particular foodstuff will be found under the specific regulations for such foodstuff. The redrafting of these regulations is in hand, and it is proposed that for cordials, syrups, and the like the use of salicylic acid as an alternative to sulphur dioxide shall be permitted in all cases except for artificial cordials. 3. Colourings. —The general regulations relating to colourings also commence on page 6. In the redrafting of the regulations, referred to in paragraph 2, it is proposed that the amended regulations shall read as follows : — "11. (a.) The addition of a flavouring substance or of a colouring substance to any article of food, except as specifically permitted by these regulations, is hereby prohibited. " (b.) When an artificial colouring or an artificial flavouring substance has been added to any article of food there shall be written in the label attached to any package of such food, in bold-faced sans-serif capital types of not less than six points face measurement, a statement in such one of the three forms following as the case may require : — ARTIFICIALLY COLOURED. ARTIFICIALLY FLAVOURED. ARTIFICIALLY COLOURED AND FLAVOURED. " Provided that this statement shall not be required in the case of the following foods:— Butter. Whole-milk cheese. Cocoa and chocolate. Confectionery. Bastry. Ice-cream and ices. Jelly-crystals or fruit-jelly crystals. Spirits. Artificial cordials and syrups, and artificial non-alcoholic flavoured beverages labelled as prescribed by Regulation 75 (3) (c) of these regulations.

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