A.—2

in force for officers recalled for service with the British Army, and in no case should any service with any of the above forces count towards increase of pension, gratuity, or any other pecuniary advantages that might be given from British funds for service with the British Army. An officer of the Regular Army Reserve of Officers resident in a Dominion should be subject to deduction of his retired pay in a similar manner to an officer of the Regular Army Reserve of Officers resident in this country, in the event of a general mobilization of the Regular Army. If, however, his services are utilized by the Dominion Government for operations (including civil disturbances) within the territories of the Dominion, not involving mobilization of the Regular Army, no such deduction would be made. In the event of a retired officer who, under Article 691, Pay Warrant, 1926, is an officer of the Regular Army Reserve of Officers, and who may be, or has been, appointed to a commission in the forces of one of the Dominions, no deduction of his retired pay would operate by reason of his employment in peace time training with these forces. 2. I shall be glad to be informed whether your Ministers concur in the above proposals of the Army Council. 3. A similar despatch is being sent to the Governors-General of Canada, the Commonwealth of Australia, and the Union of South Africa, and the Governor of Newfoundland. I have, &c., L. S. AMERY. Governor-General His Excellency General Sir C. Eergusson, Bart., LL.D., G.C.M.G., K.C.8., D.5.0., M.V.0., &c.

No. 43. New Zealand, Dominions No. 507. Sir,-- Downing Street, Bth November, 1926. I have the honour to request Your Excellency to inform your Ministers that it has been suggested that a course of study for those concerned in the administration of prisons in the Dominions, colonies, &c., should be arranged every summer at the office of the Prison Commission. 2. It is understood from the Prison Commissioners that it is now the common practice for those concerned with the administration of prisons overseas to spend a part of leave taken in this coimtry in visiting prisons and institutions here. The majority of these officers come in the summer, but they arrive at the Prison Commission singly, and usually at short notice. It has been for some time the policy of the Commissioners to accord to each officer a personal interview of some length on his first arrival, to furnish him with official reports, to recommend other literature, and to arrange for him to be shown the working of several different establishments. These visitors are so frequent that the Governor cannot always accompany them through the prison or institution, and the task is delegated to a senior prison officer. Frequently, the officer returns for a second interview at the end of his tour. In this way a great deal of time is spent, but each officer coming singly does not receive in any systematic way the information which he requires from those best qualified to give it. 3. There is evident throughout the Empire an increased desire to understand the developments of prison treatment in this country, and to grasp the principles that underlie them, and the Commissioners anticipate an increase in the number of accredited visitors as time goes on. They are convinced that the needs of these officers can be more fitly met, with a less expenditure of time, if a course of study is provided analogous to that organized by the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police (see my despatch, Dominions No. 493, of the 18th November, 1925).

48