INTERCOLONIAL RECIPROCITY. (PAPERS RELATIVE TO).

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1875 Session I, A-06

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1875. NEW ZEALAND.

INTERCOLONIAL RECIPROCITY. (PAPERS RELATIVE TO).

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His ZExcellency.

No. 1. Circular to Australasian Governments. (No. 14.) Colonial Secretary's Office, Wellington, Sib,— New Zealand, 6th May, 1874. I have the honor to enclose the copy of a joint memorandum by the Colonial Treasurer and the Commissioner of Customs of New Zealand upon the subject of intercolonial reciprocity between the colonies of Australasia, which has been adopted and assented to by the Governor in Council of this colony. I desire to commend the subject of this memorandum to the consideration of your Government. I have, Ac, Daniel Pollen. , ,—. ,

Enclosure in No. 1. Memorandum on Intercolonial Reciprocity between Australasian Colonies. The Colonial Treasurer and the Commissioner of Customs of New Zealand have jointly had under their consideration the question of what action, if any, it is desirable to take under the powers accorded by " The Australian Colonies Duties Act, 1873." New Zealand possessed the power of imposing differential duties before that Act was passed; but inasmuch as similar powers were previously denied to the other colonies, the Act for the first time afforded the means to the Australian colonies of entering into reciprocal arrangements. Hitherto no action has been taken under the Act. The reason for this apparent indifference to a measure so eagerly sought is not difficult to discover. Independently of the fact that the earnest desire to obtain a particular power does not necessarily imply that it will be immediately used, there are reasons, in the late relations between several of the colonies in respect to postal services, border duties, cattle importation, and other questions, which explain why it has not been considered expedient, or likely to be productive of useful results, to earlier press the exercise of the powers conferred by the Act. Even now, though it is well the subject should be ventilated, it is doubtful whether there will speedily be any results. The Colonial Treasurer and the Commissioner of Customs have, however, come to the conclusion to move the Government to take some action in respect to the Act. Past experience shows that conferences of the representatives of all the Australasian colonies lead to misunderstandings rather than to agreements, and the Colonial Treasurer and Commissioner of Customs are of opinion that results are more likely to be arrived at by negotiations between different colonies than by the more ambitious attempt to devise plans which would be suitable and acceptable to all of them. Indeed, the circumstances of the colonies are so different, and the adoption of a common plan would involve so many sacrifices, that the attempt to obtain united action might lead to shelving the measure. On the other hand, any two of the colonies would be able so to consider their own circumstances as to make negotiations between them comparatively easy. Any arrangement entered into would probably, as far as circumstances did not compel a difference, lead to other arrangements of a similar nature, so that in the end there would probably be a nearer approach to a common agreement by separate negotiation that by attempting at the outset to secure such a result. I—A. 6.

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Should, however, the other colonies be of a different opinion, the Colonial Treasurer and Commissioner of Customs think that New Zealand should not stand aloof, but that, on the contrary, she should invite the other colonies to make this colony the scene of the conference. There are reasons, which the other colonies will perhaps not be unprepared to allow, why a neutral ground like New Zealand, sufficiently removed from Australia to be free from the territorial prejudices which affect different Governments on one continent, would be suitable for a meeting of the representatives of all the colonies. The Colonial Treasurer and Commissioner of Customs, however, do not suggest that a conference should be recommended, but merely that, if it should be deemed expedient to hold one, Wellington should be the place of meeting. In the meanwhile, it is advised that New Zealand should show itself ready to negotiate with other colonies. To facilitate such negotiations, the Colonial Treasurer and Commissioner of Customs have considered the articles about which it is desirable to treat. Any two colonies desiring to make arrangements would find it the most convenient course to first agree upon the articles which should become the subject of arrangement: the details of such arrangement would then be arrived at with comparative facility. In the Schedule attached, the Colonial Treasurer and Commissioner of Customs enumerate the articles concerning which they are of opinion it will be desirable to treat. In selecting those articles they have been guided by various considerations, such as — (a.) That they are sufficiently important or useful, or likely to become so, to make it desirable that agreements should be entered into about them. (b.) That they are not of a nature likely to occasion difficulties by importations of foreign goods being palmed off as native productions. (c.) That they are articles which it is so essentially reasonable the colonies should exchange and be dependent upon each other for, that Great Britain and other countries would not be justified in complaining of the arrangements as injurious to their commerce or prejudicial to their interests. A practice has grown up in one colony, if not more, of supplementing Customs duties by heavy wharf dues. As there would be no advantage in the remission of duties if they could be replaced by other burdens, it should be understood that the arrangements made would concern all charges of a direct nature, whether in the shape of Customs duties or wharf or jetty dues. In respect to the latter it would be easy to agree that they should not exceed a specified rate. If approved in Executive Council, this memorandum might be forwarded to the Government of each of the other colonies. Some of the articles in the Schedule will not be applicable to the circumstances of all the colonies, but the general nature of the memorandum will sufficiently explain to any colony so situated the necessary inclusion. Schedule. Geain of all kinds, flour, malt and hops, ale and porter, colonial wines, New Zealand flax, timber, jams, butter, bacon, cheese, fish, fruit. Jtjliijs Vogel. April 25th, 1874. William H. Eetnolds. Fobsteb Gobing, Clerk to Executive Council. Approved in Council—Julius Vogel, Presiding. Approved—James Feegusson, Governor.

No. 2. The Colonial Seceetaet, Tasmania, to the Colonial Seceetaet, New Zealand. Sie, — Colonial Secretary's Office, Tasmania, 22nd May, 1874. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 6th instant, transmitting a copy of a memorandum on the subject of intercolonial free trade between the Australasian colonies, and in reply I have to inform you that the memorandum will receive the early consideration of this Government. I have, &c, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, "Wellington, N.Z. Thomas D. Chapman.

No. 3. The Chief Seceetaey, South Australia, to the Colonial Secbetaey, New Zealand. Sib — Chief Secretary's Office, Adelaide, 22nd May, 1874. I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 6th instant, on the subject of intercolonial reciprocity, and to inform you that the matter will receive early attention. I have, &c, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington, N.Z. J. Bootiibt, (for the Chief Secretary).

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No. 4. The Colonial Seceetabt, Tasmania, to the Colonial Seceetaet, New Zealand. Sie, — Colonial Secretary's Office, Tasmania, 25th May, 1874. With reference to my letter of the 22nd instant, I have now the honor of informing you that the memorandum from your Government on the subject of intercolonial free trade has received the careful consideration of the Executive Government of this colony. The Government and Parliament of Tasmania have long entertained the opinion that nothing would tend more to promote the welfare of the inhabitants of the Australasian colonies than the free exchange of all articles the growth, produce, or manufacture of the said colonies, and on several occasions during the past ten years this Government has sent delegates to the Conferences that have been held in Melbourne and Sydney to promote that object. As " The Australian Colonies Duties Act, 1873," authorized the Legislature of Tasmania to make laws with respect to the remission or imposition of duties on any article the produce or manufacture of New Zealand when imported into Tasmania, the Parliament of this colony passed an Act authorizing the Governor of Tasmania, with the advice of the Executive Council, to enter into an agreement with the Governor of New Zealand for the admission into the ports of Tasmania of all or any articles (except spirits and tobacco) the produce or manufacture of New Zealand, free from Customs duties, wharfage, or other charges; provided that the Governor of New Zealand would at the same time enter into an agreement to admit into the ports of New Zealand the products and manufactures of Tasmania, or some of them (except spirits and tobacco), free from all Customs duties, wharfage, and other charges, and further that such agreements might be made for a period of five years. I transmit herewith six copies of that Act for the information of your Government. Acting, therefore, under the authority of the Intercolonial Customs Duties Act of this colony, the Governor of Tasmania will be prepared to enter into an agreement with the Governor of New Zealand (for a period of five years) for the admission into the ports of Tasmania, free from all Customs duties, wharfage, and other charges, of the following articles of the growth, produce, or manufacture of New Zealand, viz.,—Grain of all kinds, flour, malt, hops, ale and porter, jams, fruit, butter, cheese, bacon, fish, flax, and timber of all kinds, either cut, sawn, split, or in logs; provided that the Governor of New Zealand will at the same time enter into an agreement with the Governor of Tasmania for the like articles, of the growth, produce, or manufacture of Tasmania, being admitted into the ports of New Zealand free from all Customs duties, wharfage, and other charges. As it is desirable that no unnecessary delay should take place in carrying out what I understand to be the views of the Government of New Zealand and the Government of Tasmania, I venture to suggest that articles of agreement should immediately be prepared by the Law Officers of your Government, and, when ready, transmitted to this Government for the approval of the Law Officers of this colony, and, when finally settled by those officers, the agreements could be submitted for execution by the Governors of the respective colonies, and exchanged in due course. By following the plan I have suggested, we might see free trade established between Tasmania and New Zealand within two or three months from this date; and I have no doubt that before many months are passed, we should find some of the neighbouring colonies willing to enter into similar agreements with us for the free exchange of their products and manufactures. Trusting I shall be favoured with an early reply to this communication, I have, &c, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington, N.Z. Thos. D. Chapman.

Enclosure in No. 4. An Act to amend the Law with respect to Customs Duties on Intercolonial Products and Manufactures. 31st October, 1873. Whebeas it is expedient to amend the law relating to Customs duties on intercolonial products and manufactures: Be it therefore enacted by His Excellency the Governor of Tasmania, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Council and House of Assembly, in Parliament assembled, as follows: — 1. The Governor, by and with the advice of the Executive Council, may enter into an agreement with the Governors of the Colonies of New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia, Queensland, and New Zealand, or with any of them, for the admission into Tasmania of all or any articles (except spirits and tobacco) the produce or manufacture of the said colonies, or of any of them, free from Customs duties, wharfage, or other charges, or at such reduced Customs duties, wharfage, and charges as the Governor in Council thinks fit i Provided that every colony with whose Governor such agreement is entered into agrees to admit the products and manufactures of Tasmania or some of them (except spirits and tobacco) either free from all Customs duties, wharfage, and other charges, or at such reduced Customs duties, wharfage, and other charges as may be agreed upon. 2. Any such agreement may be entered into for a period not exceeding five years, and may at any time during the said period be altered or rescinded by the Governor in Council with the consent of the Governor of every colony who is a party to such agreement, but not otherwise ; and every alteration or recission of any such agreement shall be made known by Proclamation to be published in the Gazette. 3. Every agreement entered into under this Act shall be published in the Gazette, and laid before both Houses of Parliament as soon as may be after the making thereof, and shall remain in force for the period named therein, unless Parliament within one year after the same shall be so laid before Parliament annuls the same.

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4. Upon the publication in the Gazette of any such agreement, the products and manufactures which under such agreement are exempted from Customs duties, wharfage, and charges, or subjected to reduced Customs duties, wharfage, and charges, as the case may be, may be imported free of Customs duties, wharfage, or other charges, or subject to such reduced Customs duties, wharfage, or charges as is set forth in such agreement, so long as such agreement continues in force. 5. The Governor in Council may from time to time make, alter, or rescind orders for carrying this Act into effect, and for determining what articles come within its provisions ; and all such orders shall be published in the Gazette. 6. This Act may be cited as " The Intercolonial Customs Duties Act."

No. 5. Mr. Seed to the Commissioner of Customs. Interchange of Colonial Products between Tasmania and New Zealand. 23rd June, 1874. The accompanying return, compiled from the Trade Statistics for 1873, shows that New Zealand would lose nearly £6,000 per annum of Customs revenue by acceding to the proposals contained in the letter on this subject from the Government of Tasmania. The value of the articles proposed in that letter to be exempted from duty which were imported from Tasmania into New Zealand in 1873 amounted to £56,738. The value of similar articles exported from New Zealand to Tasmania in 1873 amounted to £1,333. With regard to the Tasmanian Intercolonial Customs Duties Act, I observe that by the 2nd section any agreement can only be altered or rescinded by consent of all the parties thereto, so that under this arrangement it would be hopeless to expect Tasmania or any other colony to agree readily to rescind an agreement which was proving highly advantageous to it when urged to do so by a colony that found it was suffering serious loss by the agreement. It is true that the 3rd section of the Act provides for agreements being annulled by Parliament, but the Executive should have similar power, otherwise much delay might occur in getting an agreement put an end to, and the revenue of the colony might thereby be exposed to unnecessary loss. The fairest plan would be to provide that any agreement might be rescinded by either party giving, say, three months' notice of their desire for it to be terminated. W. Seed. *

RETURN showing the QUANTITY and VALUE of the undermentioned ARTICLES IMPORTED from Tasmania to New Zealand, and the AMOUNT of DUTY collected thereon, during the Year 1873; also QUANTITY and VALUE of all ARTICLES EXPORTED from New Zealand to Tasmania, and IMPORTED from Tasmania into New Zealand during the same period.

Exports fn >m New Zi 'asmania. ialand to Imports from Tai lania into "ew Zealand. Articles proposed to be admitted Duty Free in Tasmania and in Mew Zealand. Quantity. Value. Duty. Quantity. Value. Duty. Butter • Fish—Potted and Preserved Flax Flour Fruit—Bottled and Preserved „ Dried... „ Green Grain —Barley „ Beans and Peas Malt Wheat Hops 28 lbs. 33 pkgs. £ 1 61 £ 8. 0 2 6 2 d. 4 0 £ £ s. d 33 108 tons 13 cwt. 2,394 pkgs. 1,849 4,354 108 13 435 8 0 0 1| tons 56 lbs. 15,840 pkgs. ... 634 bush. lOlibush. 120 bush. 7 bush. 270 pockets, 76 bales 5,369 pkgs. 1,307,958 ft. ... 66 1,374,285 56,074 8,398,500 1 7,507 209 45 60 3 4,509 9,951 9,685 119 10,327 1,016 7,041 0 4 11 17 2 5 9 0 0 3 655 10 995 2 1,307 19 8 9 9 0 2 0 0 0 Jams Timber —Sawn Logs „ Palings „ Posts and Eails „ Shingles „ Spars 1,374 5 132 7 839 17 6 2 0 51,800 ft. 102 160 800 34 10 0 120 21 Totals ... £56,738 5,878 17 4 £1,113 34 10 0

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No. 6. Memoeanduh for the Seceetaet of Customs. Mb. Seed will please supply a return of the following articles imported from other places than Tasmania, for the year ending 1873, together with the duty paid on same:—Hour, grain, hops, jams; timber—sawn, logs, palings, posts and rails, shingles. Mr. Seed will also be good enough to state, in the event of the proposal of the Tasmanian Government being acceded to, to what extent, in his opinion, it would further encourage importations from Tasmania of these goods to this colony. lam aware that only a very rough estimate can be made, but in entertaining the question it will be necessary to consider it in all its bearings as likely to affect the revenue of this colony. 23rd June, 1874. W. H. Eetnolds.

Memokaudttm by the Seceetaet of Customs. I append hereto the return asked for, from which it will be seen that the duties collected in 1873 on hops, malt, and timber, imported from other countries than Tasmania, amounted to £14,958 19s. 6d. If the proposal of the Tasmanian Government were acceded to, the effect would be that only Tasmanian malt and hops would be imported into New Zealand, and a larger quantity of timber would also be imported from there than there is at present. This would cause a loss to the revenue of fully £14;000 a year, in addition to the £6,000 mentioned in my memorandum of the 23rd inst. Moreover, the introduction of Tasmanian malt and hops duty free would of course act prejudicially against the producers of those articles in this colony. The Hon. the Commissioner of Customs. W. Seed. 27th June, 1874.

.ETTJBN S lowing [tjautity am alu: .ETICLES mpoeted am Ixpoe: ;ed, &c. — continued. :PORTED. IXPOETED. Articles not included in Proposed Arrangement. Quantity. Value. Duty. Quantity. Value. Duty. £ 139 12,761 45 5 96 333 £ s. a. 13 18 0 £ £ e. d. Lpparel and Slops Sark Jasket and "VVickerware Jooks Carriages and Carts Carriage Materials Cordage Curiosities ?haf£ )oors and Sashes 8 pkgs. 1,634 tons 12 cwt. 30 pkgs. 1 pkg. [2 410 0 9 12 0 016 0 1 ton 77 1 10 0 )rapesy )ruggists' Wares ''uruiture laberdashery lardware lay jeather jive Stock—Horses „ Poultry „ Sheep dats and Eugs iliscellaneous 'aintings and Engravings 'lants tailway Materials ieeds —Other Kinds 4 pkgs. 10 tons 11 5 pkgs. 11 pkgs. 1 pkg. 2 pkgs. 12 pkgs. l^tons 16| cwt. 267 5 pkgs. 60 29 pkgs. 8 145 14 30 223 1 46 5 13 270 7,190 10 213 301 1,042 40 68 725 75 1 40 275 1 0 11 0 3 0 0 22 6 0 0 2 0 4 12 0 0 10 0 7 16 4 30 2 0 1 pkg. 20 pkgs. 4"o 0 ioap itone —Building itoneware ?oys Vegetables 78 pkgs 28 lbs. 10-J tons 109 pkgs. lpkg. 335 tons, 1,366 pkgs. 372 pkgs. 18 pkgs. o'"o ii 02 0 iV^oodware iVoollens 2,375 124 152 12 8 0 15 4 0 52 tons... 143 Totals ... £26,766 129 10 8 £220 1 10 0 4

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RETURN showing the QUANTITY and VALUE of the undermentioned ARTICLES IMPORTED from other places than Tasmania to New Zealand, and the AMOUNT of DUTY collected thereon, during the Year 1873.

Articles. Countries from whence Imported. Quantity. Value. Duty. lour United Kingdom New South Wales South Australia Victoria South Sea Islands Tona cwt. 46 13 337 18 2,026 10 1,763 9 3 11 £ 784 5,025 31,680 30,197 40 £ s. d. rrain—Barley Total United Kingdom New South Wales Victoria United States, America 6 bush. 151 „ 1,948* „ 67,604| „ 4,178 1 67,726 2 20 565 14,560 4,177 19 11 1,291 16 8 leans and Peas Total 69,710 bush. 15,147 United Kingdom New South Wales Victoria Hong Kong ... South Sea Islands 4H bush. 14* » 659 „ 285 „ aii „ 44 8 451 150 10 [alt Total l,021J bush. 663 32 4 0 United Kingdom 48,0061 bush."> 94 tanks) 2,807 bush. 1,888 „ 34,137i „ 31 tanks") 459 bags ) 2,800 bush. 6 tanks 26,342 Ex Warehouse New South Wales Victoria 987 21,552 Ex Warehouse United States, America 1,710 180 Total United Kingdom South Australia Victoria 84,032 bush. 131 tanks') 459 bags j 5,607 bush, ex Warehouse 21 bush. 59,133 „ 21 „ 46,491 1 4,280 j 6,722 15 1 Hieat 10 19,893 8 1,332 17 4 !ops Total 59,175 bush. 19,911 United Kingdom 831 pockets ") 8 bales J 214 pockets 7 35 bales ) 171 pockets 26 „ 7 10 bales j 46 pockets 520 „ ] 11 bales ) 198 pockets ] 24 bales ) 628 pockets 10,622 Ex Warehouse New South Wales 3,388 565 Ex Warehouse Victoria 6,868 Ex Warehouse 2,987 Total 1,377 pockets ) 19 bales J 412 pockets \ 69 bales j 845 pockets 17,855 } 6,575 ) 4,821 4 I

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No. 7. The Colonial Seceetaet, New Zealand, to the Colonial Seceetabt, Tasmania. Sie, — Colonial Secretary's Office, Wellington, 18th June, 1875. I regret that your letter of the 25th May, 1874, should have remained so long unanswered, especially as it relates to a matter of so much interest and importance to all the colonies in these seas. The delay has been occasioned by a desire to consider fully all the questions connected with that of reciprocity between the colonies, and to give time for the necessary correspondence which has arisen on the subject. The result of a careful consideration of all the aspects of the case has led the Government of New Zealand to determine that nothing can be done at present to further the views you advocate, but although I regret that no practical step can be taken at the present moment, I desire to express the readiness of this Government to reconsider the question, should circumstances arise which may give promise of a satisfactory arrangement throughout the Australasian colonies. I have, &c, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Tasmania. Daniel Pollen.

No. 8. The Colonial Secbetaet, Queensland, to the Colonial Seceetaey, New Zealand. Sie, — Colonial Secretary's Office, Brisbane, 29th May, 1874. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of a copy of a joint memorandum by the Colonial Treasurer and the Commissioner of Customs of New Zealand upon the subject of intercolonial reciprocity between the colonies of Australasia, adopted and assented to by the Governor in Council of your colony, and forwarded under cover of your circular letter of 6th May instant. I have, &c, W. H. Massie, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, "Wellington, N.Z. (for the Colonial Secretary).

I.ETTIEN s: lowing (uantity am ALUE ie um lermeni ;ionei .ETICLEi s — cotitinuet Articles. Countries from whence Imported. Quantity. Value. Duty. 'imber —Sawn United Kingdom New South "Wales Victoria Norway South Sea Islands United States, America No. 1,668,485 feet 101,768 „ 108,088 „ 24,709 „ 1,000 „ 1,369,257 „ £ 17,340 1,914 2,568 195 10 12,554 £ s. d. 3,254 2 4* „ Logs Total New South Wales 3,273,307 feet 34,581 2,221 6,130 Free. „ Palings New South "Wales South Australia Victoria United States, America 1,200 3,000 10,200 52,800 9 27 112 361 „ Posts and Eails Total 67,200 509 67 1 4 Victoria United States, America 1,500 11,755 US (iS „ Shingles Total 13,255 136 26 8 0 United States, America 674,000 231 67 8 0 „ Spars Total duty ... £21,793 17 0

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No. 9. RETURN showing the QUANTITY and VALUE of the under-mentioned ARTICLES EXPORTED from New Zealand to Queensland, and IMPORTED into New Zealand from Queensland, during the Year 1873.

No. 10. The Chief Secretary, Victoria, to the Colonial Secretary, New Zealand. Sir, — Chief Secretary's Office, Melbourne, 9th June, 1874. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 6th ultimo (Circular No. 14), enclosing a memorandum upon the subject of intercolonial reciprocity between the colonies of Australasia, and to inform you that it will receive the careful consideration of the Government of this colony. I have, &c, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington, N.Z. J. G. Francis.

No. 11. The Colonial Secretary, Western Australia, to the Colonial Secretary, New Zealand. Sir, — Colonial Secretary's Office, Perth, 2nd June, 1874. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 6th ultimo, enclosing for the consideration of the Government of this colony a copy of a joint memorandum by the Colonial Treasurer and Commissioner of Customs of New Zealand upon the subject of intercolonial reciprocity between the several colonies of Australasia, which memorandum has been assented to by the Governor in Council of New Zealand. I have submitted your letter and its enclosure to the consideration of His Excellency the Governor of this colony, and I am directed to express a concurrence in the view therein put forth, that there is at the present time little probability that united action could be anticipated from a conference of representatives from the several colonies, and it seems hardly probable that great results will speedily follow negotiations between different colonies, in each of which local circumstances vary so greatly as to render it difficult to enter into reciprocal arrangements which would work equally, or, in other words, which would not confer great advantage in one colony with a corresponding disadvantage to another.

iicles proposed to be admitted Duty Free into New Zealand and Queensland. Br >orted from ] Queeni If ew Zealand to iland. lorted from Queensland to New Zealand. Quantity. Value. Rate of Duty in New Zealand. Quantity. Value. Bate of Duty in Queensland. £ f 4s. per cwt. ( 10 per cent. C Is. & Is. 3d. per I gal. Id. per lb. Lrrowroot Id. per lb. de and Porter l,500gls 150 ...} Is. per 6 bottles. 9d. per gal. 2d. per lb. $acon Sutter )heese 130 cwt. 364 j» » i'ruit f 2s. per cwt. 110 per cent. f Id. per lb. \ 10 per cent. Is. per 100 lbs. 9d. per 100 lbs. ...} 5s. per cwt. 2s. per doz. lbs. 2d. per lb. Is. per doz. lbs. Free. 6d. per bush. (lour irrain—Barley „ Beans and Peas Malt... „ Oats... "Wheat lops ams 'hormium (N.Z.) 27J tons 140 bush. 310 35 si Is. 6d. per bush. 9d. per 100 lbs. jj )> )> iugar 203 cwt. 461 3d. per lb. 10 per cent. Free Id. per lb. 2s. per 100 ft. 8s.) 4s. [ per 100 2s.) 2s. per 1,000 4s. per gal. 2d. per lb. Is. per doz. lbs. Free. 6s.8d.&5s.percwt. timber of all kinds Not stated. #"ine —Colonial 6d. per gal. Total Value £1,320 William Seed.

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Should, however, further consideration of the questions involved in the memorandum lead to an opinion that a conference would be desirable, this Government will be prepared to send a representative either to Wellington or to such other place of meeting as may be finally decided. There do not appear to be grounds for objection to the articles named in the schedule attached to the memorandum as those in regard to which it is first desirable to treat; and though other articles naturally suggest themselves, a very little consideration shows the objections and difficulties which would probably be raised, the discussion of which might result in precluding any arrangement at all. I am further directed to say that, though the trade between New Zealand and Western Australia is at present very small, this Government will be prepared to give careful consideration to any proposition which may emanate from your Government in regard to the several articles enumerated in the schedule attached to the memorandum of Messrs. Vogel and Eeynolds. I have, &c, The Hon. theJColonial Secretary, Wellington, N.Z. Peed. P. Bablee.

No. 12. The Colonial Seceetaet, New Zealand, to the Colonial Seceetaet, Western Australia. (No. 104.) Sib,— Colonial Secretary's Office, Wellington, N.Z., 9th July, 1874. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter No. 54-940, of the 2nd June, in reply to my circular No. 14, of the (ith May, transmitting a joint memorandum by the Colonial Treasurer and the Commissioner of Customs of New Zealand upon the subject of intercolonial reciprocity between the several colonies of Australasia. I have, &c, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Western Australia. Daniel Pollen.

No. 13. The Colonial Seceetaet, Queensland, to the Colonial Seceetaet, New Zealand. Sie, — Colonial Secretary's Office, Brisbane, 22nd June, 1874. I have the honor to inform you that this Government have had under consideration the joint memorandum by the Treasurer and the Commissioner of Customs of New Zealand upon the subject of intercolonial reciprocity between the colonies of Australia, transmitted under cover of your letter of 6th May (74-1075) ; and I have now to acquaint you that, so far as New Zealand and Queensland are concerned, we are willing to negotiate for the mutually free admission of the articles mentioned in the schedule attached to the memorandum, provided the following additional articles are iucluded, namely, sugar and arrowroot; and I have further to request that you will be good enough to communicate the decision arrived at by your Government at your earliest convenience, in order that advantage may be taken of the present session of Parliament to give effect to the proposal if favourably entertained. It is also necessary to acquaint you that our principal exports would probably be timber, sugar, and arrowroot; and it is also distinctly to be understood that the exceptions would only embrace those articles which are the growth or production of the reciprocating colonies. The present wharf dues are two shillings a ton, but as the wharves are in the hands of private owners, the charge could not be interfered with. I have, &c, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington, N. Z. A. Macalistee. (Schedule. Geain of all kinds, flour, malt, hops, ale and porter, colonial wines, New Zealand flax, timber, jams, butter, bacon, cheese, fish, fruit. Additional articles —sugar, arrowroot.

No. 14. The Colonial Seceetaet, Queensland, to the Colonial Seceetaet, New Zealand. Sib, — Colonial Secretary's Office, Brisbane, 14th November, 1874. Adverting to the joint memorandum by the Treasurer and the Commissioner of Customs of New Zealand, upon the subject of intercolonial reciprocity between the colonies of Australia, transmitted under cover of your letter of 6th May, I have the honor to invite your attention to my letter of 22nd June last in reply, submitting the conditions on which, so far as New Zealand and Queensland are concerned, we are willing to negotiate for the mutually free admission of certain articles; and I shall be glad to learn the decision arrived at by your Government at vour earliest convenience, with the view of legislative action being taken on the first opportunity to give effect to the proposal if favourably entertained. I have, &c, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington, N.Z. A. Macalistee

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No. 15. The Colonial Secketary, New Zealand, to the Colonial Seceetaet, Queensland. Sib,— Colonial Secretary's Office, Wellington, N.Z., 6th March, 1875. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letters of the 22nd of June and 14th of November last, upon the subject of a reciprocity of trade between the colonies of Queensland and New Zealand. Permit me to apologize on behalf of this Government for the delay which has taken place in replying to your first letter, and to assure you that that delay is not to be attributed either to a want of respect towards your Government, or to a want of appreciation on the part of the Government of New Zealand of the importance of the subject. Your letter of June was referred to the Secretary of Customs for certain returns and other information necessary to a full consideration of the question, and that officer being absent on duty the papers were accidentally misplaced, and were only brought to light on the receipt of your second letter. At that time the Commissioner of Customs happened to be in a distant part of the colony, and the papers were sent after him, but crossed him on his return to the seat of government, and thus did not reach him for some time. Since then the subject has received that full consideration at the hands of the Cabinet which its political and fiscal importance demands, and I regret to say that the admission of the additional articles —arrowroot and sugar —stipulated for by you would so largely affect the revenue of this colony that for the present it will not be in the power of this Government to conclude a reciprocal treaty with Queensland on the terms proposed. I make this communication with much regret, and beg you to accept my assurance that it is purely on fiscal grounds that this Government have felt themselves necessitated to arrive at such a decision. We hope, however, that the suspension of negotiations will be merely temporary, and that the time may not be far distant when they may be resumed. I have, &c, W. H. Reynolds, (in the absence of the Colonial Secretary). The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Queensland. By Authority : Geohge Didsbiihy, Government Printer, Wellington.—lB7s. Price 9d.]