A.—2

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unoccupied, will revert to the Special Gallery : Provided that, so far as possible with regard to the number of seats available, foreign Ministers will be permitted to reserve a seat up to a later hour by notice given to the Serjeant-at-Arms at the Admission Order Office before the hour at which the House meets that day. (2.) The Dominions' Gallery. The six seats in the front row will be reserved for High Commissioners up to 4 o'clock (12 noon on Fridays), with the privilege of reserving the right to a seat at a later hour by giving notice of their intention to the Serjeant-at-Arms at the Admission Order Office before the meeting of the House that day. After 4 o'clock, failing such notice, these seats will be available for members of Dominion Parliaments on presentation of their Empire Parliamentary Association cards previously obtained from the Serjeant-at-Arms through the Secretary of that association. ■ (Mr. Speaker reserves to himself the right of admitting to these seats other distinguished visitors from the Dominions or elsewhere in the event of few or no members of Dominion Parliaments being in London at the time.) The five seats in the back row of the Dominions' Gallery will be reserved for members of Dominion Parliaments up to 4 o'clock. (12 noon on Fridays), or at a later hour by notice to tho Serjeant-at-Arms as provided above. After 4 o'clock, and failing such notice, these seats will become part of the Special Gallery. [n the report of the Select Committee above referred to the following paragraph appears : — " Your Committee desire to express the hope that in the event of the High Commissioners not desiring to occupy the seats provided for their use on any particular day they will have the courtesy to make the information as to their intention availablo for the Serjeant-at-Arms so that the fullest use may be made of the limited space available for distribution among members of Dominion Parliaments." The conditions as to the admission to the Ambassadors' Gallery (five seats) remain as heretofore. The Distinguished Strangers' Gallery (seven seats) remains, as at present, under the control of Mr. Speaker. Colin Keppel, Admiral, Serjeant-at-Arms.

» No. 30. New Zealand, No. 236. My Lord, — Downing Street, 19th November, 1923. With reference to my despatch, No. 220, of the 18th October, I have the honour to transmit to Your Excellency, to be laid before your Ministers, the accompanying copy of an acknowledgment from the Government of the United States of the messages of sympathy from the Legislative Council and the House of Representatives of the Dominion of New Zealand on the death of President Harding. I have, &c, DEVONSHIRE. Governor-General His Excellency the Right Hon. Viscount Jellicoe, G.C.8., 0.M., G.C.V.0., &c.

Enclosure. Sir, — Department of State, Washington, D.C., 30th October, 1923. 1 have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your note, No. 908, of the 24th October, 1923, transmitting, under instructions from your Government and at the request of His Excellency the Governor-General of New Zealand, copies of resolutions passed by the Legislative Council and the House of Representatives of the Dominion of New Zealand regarding their sorrow at the death of President Harding, and tendering their sympathy to the people of the United States and the relatives of the late President. These resolutions of sympathy have been received with high appreciation by the Government of the United States, and I shall be thankful if you will be so good as to make this appreciation known, through the appropriate channels, to the Legislative Council and the House of Representatives of the Dominion of New Zealand. I am sending copies of the resolutions to Mrs. Harding, who, I doubt not, will be equally appreciative of the friendly sympathy of these legislative bodies. Accept, Sir, the renewed assurances of my high consideration. For the Secretary of State, J. Butler Wright. Mr. Henry Getty Chilton, Charge d'Affaires ad interim of Great Britain.