7

A.—2

" (2.) That, so far as practicable, efforts be made to ensure that the materials used in carrying out contracts be of Empire production. " (3.) That State, provincial, and local government authorities should be encouraged to take note of the foregoing resolutions." The Government will be glad if the matter is considered by your authority with a view to giving effect to this resolution, subject to the condition that, in view of the present special circumstances with regard to unemployment, no alteration should be made in the policy laid down in Circular 400, of the 15th May, 1923, with regard to the placing of contracts in this country. I am. &c., W. A. ROBINSON, The Clerk to the Local Authority. Secretary. Circular 400. (England and Wales.) Circular: County Councils, Town Councils, Metropolitan Borough Councils, Urban District Councils, Rural District Councils, Boards of Guardians, Joint Boards, Port Sanitary Authorities. Contracts. Sir, — Ministry of Health, Whitehall S.W. 1, 15th May, 1923. I am directed by the Minister of Health to inform you that the Government have decided that, as regards all works in respect of which grants are given expressly because of unemployment by the Unemployment Grants Committee or by any Government Department, it shall be a condition of the grant that all contracts for or incidental to the works are to be placed in this country. This follows a similar condition with regard to schemes in respect of which guarantees are given under the Trade Facilities Act. The Government also urge that, in view of present conditions, the same principle should be adopted, in the absence of special circumstances, in the case of all contracts in respect of works carried out by local authorities, whether or not the expenditure on the works is assisted by grants from the National Exchequer or from the Road Fund. A copy of this circular should be handed to the financial officer of the authority. I am, &c., W. A. ROBINSON, The Clerk to the Local Authority. Secretary.

No. 12. New Zealand, No. 74. Sir, — Downing Street, 17th April, 1925. With reference to my despatch, No. 29, of the 19th February, I have the honour to transmit to Your Excellency, for the information of your Ministers, the accompanying copy of a parliamentary question and answer of the 7th April, relating to the Imperial wireless service. I have, &c., W. ORMSBY GORE, For the Secretary of State. Governor-General His Excellency General Sir C. Fergusson, Rart., LL.D., G.C.M.G., K.C.8., D.5.0., M.V.0., &c.

Enclosure. [Copy.] Official Report, 7th April. Imperial Wireless. 89. Mr. T. Thomson asked the Postmaster-General what stage has been reached in the promotion of his scheme to provide an efficient Imperial wireless service, and when it will be in operation. Sir W. Mitchell-Thomson : The answer to this question is rather long, but perhaps, in view of the importance of the matter and of previous questions that have been asked on the subject, the House will bear with me while I read it. The high-power station which is in course of erection at Rugby is expected to be completed about November next. Sites for the beam stations for communication with Canada and South Africa have been placed at the disposal of the Marconi Company, and the stations are due to be completed early in October. Sites for the beam stations for communication with India and Australia have been submitted to the company for approval, and those stations should be completed within nine months of the actual provision of the sites. The corresponding beam stations in the Dominions are in various stages of progress. The latest reports indicate that the South African and Canadian stations will be completed about the same time as the corresponding stations here. The stations in India and Australia will probably not be ready before the end of this year or the early part of next year. The Dominions have been invited to nominate representatives to a permanent committee, under the chairmanship of the Assistant Postmaster-General, to consider practical details of working the services, including such matters as routing of messages and tariffs.