DESPATCHES FROM THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL OF NEW ZEALAND TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES.

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1919 Session I, A-01

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1919. NEW ZEALAND.

DESPATCHES FROM THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL OF NEW ZEALAND TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES.

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

INDEX.

No. 1. New Zealand, No. 35. Sir, — Government House, Wellington, 18th February, 1918. I have the honour to inform you, in reference to your despatch, No. 166, A.-2,1918 dated the 252nd October, 1917, that instructions have been issued so that the No - 25 - -masters of all British ships, whether on Government service or not, may be advised in regard to the procedure to be followed in making marine protests. i 2. The officers in this Dominion before whom protests should be made are the Superintendents of Mercantile Marine at the ports of Auckland, Wellington, Lyttelton, and Dunedin, and at other ports before the Collectors of Customs. 1 have, &c, LIVERPOOL, The Right Hon. Walter H. Long, M.P., Governor-General. Secretary of State for the Colonies,

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No. of Series. Date. Subject. Page. 1 2 1918. Feb. 18 „ 28 Marino protests Certificates of interest for goods imported into this Dominion from Madeira, Porto Santo, and the Azores Certificate of survey from seagoing steamships under the Indian Steamships Act No. VIII of 1884 Death of the Honourable Sir Henry John Miller, Knight Bachelor Death of Honourable Sir Charles Bowen, Knight Bachelor, Speaker of the Legislative Council.. Retention of the title " Honourable " by Sir John Edward 'Denniston Synopsis of Acts passed during the fourth session of the Nineteenth Parliament of New Zealand Allied Conference re treatment and training of disabled sailors and soldiers.. Examination of masters and mates in the Mercantile Marine Resolution passed by citizens of New Zealand in connection with the fourth anniversary of the declaration of war by Germany Facilities for changing ships' names Separation allowances to dependants of munition workers engaged in Great Britain Reciprocity of treatment between India and Dominions Relaxations in the regulations relating to the examination of engineers in the mercantile marine Address in Reply from the Legislative Council and House of Representatives Advisory Council to assist the Department of Commerce and Industry of the Board of Trade : Appointment of Hon. Sir. Thomas Mackenzie as Dominion's representative Conditions of eligibility for the award of the Colonial Auxiliary Forces Officers' Decoration 1 2 3 Mar. 5 2 4 5 6 7 0 April 8 „ 17 „ 26 2 2 3 3 8 9 10 May 31 Aug. 20 „"' 27 5 5 5 11 12 13 14 15 16 Sept. 24 Oct. I Nov. 0 6 „ 29 Doe. 9 6 7 7 8 8 9 1.7 „ 31 9

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No. 2. New Zealand, No. 41. Sir, — Government House, Wellington, 28th February, 1918. I have the honour to inform you, in reply to your despatch, Dominions No. 1, of the 3rd January, that my Ministers will adopt the policy recommended by you in that they will not require certificates of interest for goods imported into this Dominion from Madeira, Porto Santo, and the Azores. I have, &c, LIVERPOOL, The Right Hon. Walter H. Long, M.P., Governor-General. Secretary of State for the Colonies.

A.-2, 1918 No. 8.

No. 3. New Zealand, No. 52. Sir, — Government House, Wellington, sth March, 1918. I have the honour to inform you that I duly referred to my Ministers your despatch, Dominions No. 772, dated the 30th November, 1917, and its enclosures, relative to the revision of the form of certificate of survey for sea : going steamships under the Indian Steamships Act No. VIII of 1884, and of the rules to be applied at Indian ports to passenger-ships. 2. I am advised that it is not the practice of the Marine Department of this Dominion to allow, by its certificates, steamships to carry any deck passengers outside New Zealand; and my Ministers do not consider it advisable to depart from this course, as the Department's Surveyors are not in possession of knowledge of all the local conditions affecting other parts of the world, and, in consequence, are not in a position to certify how many passengers could safely be carried on deck. I have, &c, LIVERPOOL, The Right Hon. Walter 11. Long, M.P., Governor-General. Secretary of State for the Colonies.

No. 4. New Zealand, No. 54. Sir, — Government House, Wellington, 6th March, 1918. I have the honour to inform you that I regret to report the death, at Oamaru, New Zealand, on the 6th February, 1918, of the Honourable Sir Henry John Miller, Knight Bachelor. 2. The late Sir Henry Miller rendered, during the course of many years, valuable public service to this Dominion. In 1865 he was appointed a member of the Legislative Council, of which body he was a life member, and was Speaker of the Council in 1892-1893. From July, 1872, to September of the same year the deceased gentleman was a member of the Executive Council in the Fox Ministry. I have, &o, LIVERPOOL, The Right Hon. Walter H. Long, M.P., Governor-General. Secretary of State for the Colonies.

No. 5. New Zealand, No. 77. Sir, Government House, Wellington, Bth April, 1918. I have the honour to report, with regret, the death at Christchurch, on the 12th December last, of the Honourable Sir Charles Christopher Bowen,

A.-2, 1918, No. 24.

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Knight Bachelor, for many years Speaker of the Legislative Council of this Dominion. 2. As you are doubtless aware, Sir Charles Bowen was a conspicuous figure in the public life of this country. He had a useful parliamentary career, and during the course of a long life rendered many eminent services to this Dominion. 3. I regret the delay in reporting the occurrence. I have, &c, LIVERPOOL, The Right Hon. Walter H. Long, M.P., Governor-General. Secretary of State for the Colonies.

No. 6. New Zealand, No. 82. Sir, — Government House, Wellington, 17th April, 1918. With reference to Mr. (now Viscount) Harcourt's despatch, " Miscellaneous," of the 22nd December, 1911, intimating that His Majesty the King had been graciously pleased to approve of the recognition of the title of " Honourable " in the case of retired Chief Justices and Judges of Supreme Courts in His Majesty's self-governing Dominions who have been or may be hereafter permitted to bear it after retirement, I have the honour to recommend, at the instance of my Prime Minister, that the privilege may be accorded in the case of Sir John Edward Denniston, Knight Bachelor. 2. Sir John Denniston was appointed a Judge of the Supreme Court of New Zealand on the 11th February, 1889, and retired on pension on the 4th February last. I have, &e, LIVERPOOL, The Right Hon. Walter H. Long, M.P., Governor-General. Secretary of State for the Colonies.

A.-2, 1918 No. 27.

No. 7. New Zealand, No. 88. Sir, — Government House, Wellington, 26th April, 1918. At the instance of my Prime Minister, I have the honour to transmit to you the accompanying synopsis, prepared by the Attorney-General, of the Acts passed during the fourth session of the Nineteenth Parliament of New Zealand, together with the Acts duly authenticated with the Seal of the Dominion. I have, &c, LIVERPOOL, The Right Hon. Walter H. Long, M.P., Governor-General. Secretary of State for the Colonies.

Enclosure. Report on Legislation passed by the General Assembly of New Zealand during the Session ended on the 15th Day of April, 1918. \<\m the information of His Excellency the Governor-General I beg to report as follows : — I. The synopsis attached hereto relates to the Acts passed by the General Assembly of New Zealand during the session which ended on the 15th day of April, 191S. 11. In my opinion neither of the said Acts is repugnant to the law of England. Dated at-Wellington, this 18th day of April, 1918. P. H. D. Bell, Attorney-General.

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Synopsis of Acts passed by the General Assembly of New Zealand during the Session ended on the 15th Day of April, 1918. Public Acts. 1918, No. 1. The Expiring Laws Continuance Act, 1918. —This Act continues in force until the 31st August, 1919, the several enactments specified in the schedule thereto. The enactments so continued relate to matters having reference to the present war. Part lof the Monopoly Prevention Act, 1908. which expired on the 31st December, 1915, is revived as from that date, and is continued in operation until the 31st August, 1919. 1918, No. 2. The Einance Act, 1918.—This Act is divided into Parts, as follows: Part I, Public Revenues ; Part 11, Land-tax and Income-tax, and Amusements-tax; Part 111, War-purposes Loan; Part IV, General. Part 1 (Public Revenues) makes the necessary financial provision to allow the Government to carry on its business until the holding of the ordinary session of Parliament (towards the end of the year). It extends for a period of nine months the appropriations for the financial year ended on the 31st March, 1918; and expenditure in accordance with those appropriations may be incurred during the current financial year accordingly. Part 11. Land-tax and Income-tax, and Amusements-tax.—By this Part of the Act landtax and income-tax (including a special war-tax) are imposed for the financial year commencing the Ist April, 1918, at the same rates respectively as were fixed for the preceding financial year by the Finance Act, 191.7. Exemptions from the amusements-tax are granted in respect of agricultural and pastoral societies' shows, and of entertainments promoted for patriotic purposes, or by societies not established for profit. Part HI. War-purposes Loan. —By this Part of the Act the Minister of Finance is empowered to raise a loan of £2,000,000 for war purposes. The provisions of the Finance Act, 1917 (relating to the war-purposes loan of 1917), with respect to war-loan certificates, Post Office War Bonds (now, however, called Post Office War Loan Inscribed Stock), and the issue of special securities to be available in the payment of death duties are repealed. By section 1C provision is made for enforced subscriptions by persons who may fail to contribute in accordance with their means. The maximum subscription that any person majr be called upon to make is an amount equal to six times his yearly average of land-tax and income-tax (exclusive of excess-profits duty) for the three years ended the 31st March, 1918. If any person fails to contribute the amount required of him, he is liable to a penal tax equal to twice the amount of land-tax and income-tax payable by him under the Einance Act, 1917, and, in addition, the amount of the contribution required of him may be recovered by. the Commissioner of Taxes by action in Ins own name, on behalf of the Crown. Persons on whom a requisition to contribute to the loan is served have a right to appeal, in the first place to a special Board of Government officials of administrative rank, with a final right of appeal to a Judge of the Supreme Court in Chambers. The provisions of section 16 are made applicable to the outstanding balance of the loan of 1917, and the corresponding provisions of section 40 of the Finance Act, 1917, are repealed. The compulsory provisions may be exercised with respect cither to the loan of 1917 or the loan of 1918, notwithstanding that the limit of the loan-authority may thereby be exceeded. Except with respect to compulsory contributions (on which interest is payable at 3 per cent.) and Post Office War Loan Inscribed Stock (carrying interest at 5 per cent, subject to income-tax) the loan is to be raised at per cent, free from income-tax. Part IV. General. —By Part IV of the Act the following miscellaneous provisions are made : — Section 19 extends the duration of the present Parliament by one year, unless it is sooner dissolved by the Governor-General pursuant to any authority in that behalf. Section 20 protects local authorities in respect of loans which may fall due during the period of the war or within twelve months thereafter. The term of all such loans, and of all special rates or other securities therefor, is extended until the expiration of such period of twelve months. Section 21 authorizes local authorities to borrow moneys by way of bank overdraft for investment in the war-purposes loan. Section 22 restricts the importation into New Zealand of unmatured, spirits. Section 23 is an "emergency" provision which enables the Minister of Finance to dispense, in favour of a company, with the provisions of the Companies Act requiring the registration of mortgages as a condition precedent to their validity. The Minister may exercise such dispensing-power if he is satisfied that owing to war conditions registration of any such mortgage would be unfair or unreasonable in the circumstances. Section 24 restricts to "trade mortgages" the operations of section 2 of the Mortgages Extension Amendment Act, 1914 (which enables mortgagors to contract themselves out of the protection afforded by the principal Act). The effect of the amendment is that mortgagees, entitled under mortgages other than trade mortgages, must obtain the leave of the Supreme Court before exercising, pursuant to the mortgage, their powers of sale. Section 25 enables the Governor-General by war regulations to make provision for a scheme of " national service " during the war. Such regulations may provide for— (a) " Procuring, exacting, enforcing, controlling, and regulating national service"; and (b) "prohibiting or restricting any service, employment, occupation, business, work or industry." Wage-earners under a scheme of national service are not to receive less than would be payable pursuant to any award or agreement under the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act 1908.

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No. 8. New Zealand, No. 124. Sir, — Government House, Wellington, 31st May, 1918. In reference to your despatch, No. 36, of the 11th February, relative to the Allied Conference to be held in London to consider proposals for the treatment and training of disabled sailors and soldiers, I have the honour to inform you that New Zealand will be represented at the Conference by the Honourable Sir Thomas Mackenzie, K.C.M.G., F.R.G.S., and Brigadier-General G. S. Richardson. I have, &c, LIVERPOOL, The Right Hon. Walter 11. Long, M.P., Governor-General. Secretary of State for the Colonies.

A.-2, 1918 No. 14.

No. 9. New Zealand, No. 172. Sir, — Government House, Wellington, 26th August, 1918. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch, No. 97, of the 31st May, enclosing copies of a revised edition of the regulations issued by the Board of Trade on the subject of the examination of masters and mates in the mercantile marine. 2. I am advised by my Ministers that the New Zealand regulations are now being amended in order that they may be brought into line with the new rules issued by the Board of Trade. A copy of the amended regulations will be forwarded to the Board of Trade in due course. I have, &c, LIVERPOOL, The Right Hon. Walter H. Long, M.P., Governor-General. Secretary of State for the Colonies.

No. 10. New Zealand, No. 178. Sir,— Government House, Wellington, 27th August, 1918. I have the honour to inform you that this year, as in past years since the outbreak of the present war, all Mayors of Borough Councils, Chairmen of County Councils, Town Boards, and Road Boards in New Zealand were invited to call together the citizens of their respective districts and to submit to them a resolution in connection with the fourth anniversary of the declaration of the war with Germany. 2. This invitation resulted in 272 meetings being held throughout the Dominion on the sth August, at all of which the citizens assembled gave evidence of their inflexible determination to continue to a successful conclusion the struggle in which we are at present'engaged. 3. Meetings were also convened by certain patriotic societies, at which the same sentiments were expressed, and, in addition, the congregations of several of the religious denominations recorded their endorsement of the terms of the resolution. 4. Copies of the resolution and copies of the letters which were sent by the Acting Prime Minister to the public and religious bodies are enclosed. I have, &c, LIVERPOOL, The Right Hon. Walter H. Long, M.P., Governor-General. Secretary of State for the Colonies.

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Enclosure. Sir,— Prime Minister's Office, Wellington, 19th July, 1918. As this year the anniversary of the war (4th August) falls on a Sunday, I have the honour, on behalf of the Government of this Dominion, to suggest to you that special reference to the occasion be made in your churches. The British Empire entered this war knowing the righteousness of its cause, knowing, too, that in its essence the struggle was not for world empire or the control of the trade and commerce of the world, but for very existence between two ideals of civilization. Therefore, while the question of holding special services is left to your discretion, it is felt that it is fitting the day should be made one of intercession to Almighty God that we and those with whom we are associated in this great conflict may be found acceptable in His sight as the instruments by means of which complete and early victory may be secured to the Allies, and the cause of justice, freedom, and righteousness vindicated. I may mention that, as in previous years, Mayors of boroughs and Chairmen of other local bodies are being requested to convene meetings of the citizens in their districts to be held on Monday, sth August. 1 enclose herewith copy of the resolution to be submitted to such public meetings, and should you deem it appropriate that this resolution be put to your congregations a sufficient number of copies thereof will on request be supplied to you by my colleague the Minister of Internal Affairs. ' I have, &c, J. Allen, Acting Prime Minister. Resolution to be submitted to Public Meetings throughout the Dominion, Monday, the sth August, 1918, in connection with the Fourth Anniversary of the Declaration of the War with Germany. "That, on this the fourth anniversary of the declaration of a righteous war, this meeting of the citizens of records its inflexible determination to continue to a victorious end the struggle in maintenance of those ideals of liberty and justice which are the common and sacred cause of the Allies." Sir,— Prime Minister's Office, Wellington, 19th Jul)-, 1918. On behalf of the Government of this Dominion, I have the honour to request that on Monday, the sth August next, being the day following the fourth anniversary of the declaration of war with Germany, you will call a meeting of the citizens of your and submit the attached resolution of determination to continue the war to a victorious end. The same resolution will be submitted to public meetings throughout the rest of the Empire. The British Empire entered upon this war knowing the righteousness of its cause, knowing, too, that in its essence the struggle was not one for world empire or the control of the trade and commerce of the world, but a struggle for very existence between two ideals of civilization. For four years we have recognized that the maintenance of the ideal for which the Empire stands necessitates our prosecution of the war to a victorious conclusion. A year ago, when the Central Powers were being at least held in check, the Allies recognized that peace by negotiation would have meant nothing more or less than a German)' victory. To-day the internal condition of Russia is chaotic. A series of German military successes on the west front has been achieved, and the Central Powers' position on the map is apparently stronger than at any time since the Battle of the Marne. Under these conditions, therefore, is it not all the more necessary that we should again declare our determination to win through to victory on the field of battle, inspired by the same spirit which moved Lincoln to utter these words in the dark days of 1864?— " We accepted this war for a worthy object, and the war will end when that object is attained. Under God, I hope it will not end until that time." Should our determination fall short of that, the sacrifices our own men have made in Europe, in Asia, and in Africa, and on all the seas of the world, will have been in vain. In such a case the hardships endured to-day will be but so mjich preparation for the horror and slaughter that an undefeated, arrogant Germany will again—maybe in our own lifetime—inflict on a world then perhaps too weary of war to resist successfully the doctrine of force we are now combatting. I shall be glad if on the 6th August you will telegraph to me the fact of the meeting having been held and of the resolution having been carried. I have, &c, J. Allen, Acting Prime Minister.

No. 11. New Zealand, No. 192. Sir, — Government House, Wellington, 24th September, 1918. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch, Dominions No. 368, of the 9th July, in which you state that His Majesty's Government have now decided that it is in the interests of shipping generally that the facilities for changing merchant ships' names should, as a war emergency, be suspended.

A.-2, 1918, No. 29.

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2. The purport of this despatch was contained in your telegram of the 18th July, and I telegraphed to you on the 27th August stating that the Government of New Zealand would adopt the policy suggested by His Majesty's Government in the matter. I have, &e, LIVERPOOL, The Right Hon. Walter H. Long, M.P., Governor-General. Secretary of State for the Colonies.

No. 12. New Zealand, No. 203. Sir, — Government House, Wellington, Ist October, 1918. I have the honour to forward herewith copy of a letter I have received from the Ministry of Labour, London, relative to the payment of separation allowances to the dependants in British Dominions of colonial workmen who are engaged in Great Britain in employment approved by the Ministry of Labour. 2. I should be glad if you would cause the Ministry of Labour to be informed that my Government state that in no case has a pension been paid in New Zealand on behalf of a munition worker, except where the pensioner has been found to be wholly, or almost wholly, dependent on the claimant. I have, &e, LIVERPOOL The Right Hon. Walter H. Long, M.P., Governor-General. Secretary of State for the Colonies.

Enclosure. Ministry of Labour, Employment Department, Queen Anne's Chambers, Your Excellency,— Westminster S.W. 1, 2nd July, 1918. I am directed by the Minister of Labour to refer to previous correspondence relating to the payment in certain circumstances of a separation allowance to the dependants in the British Dominions of workmen who have come to this country and are engaged here in employment approved by this Department. In this connection I am to draw your attention to the fact that the Department's sanction to pay the separation allowance is limited to cases in which the person nominated to receive the separation allowance is proved on investigation to be wholly, or almost wholly, dependent for the cost of maintenance upon the claimant. lam now to state that the Department have recently had under review the applications for separation allowance made by certain colonial munition workers, and from a scrutiny of the forms of claim it would appear that in some cases the dependants may not be in fact wholly, or almost wholly, dependent upon the claimants. I am accordingly to inform you that the Department would be glad if you would be so good as to reinvestigate any cases in which the degree of dependence on the claimant of the person in receipt of payment appears to be at all doubtful, and if you would withhold payment in any cases in which your inquiries indicate that there is not in fact total, or almost total, dependence. The Department would be glad to be informed by cable at the earliest possible moment of the cases (if any) in which you decide so to withhold payment, and to receive by letter a full report of all the reinvestigations which you find it necessary to make. I have, <fec, (Signature illegible). His Excellency the Governor-General, Wellington, New Zealand.

No. 13. New Zealand, No. 224. Sir, — Government House, Wellington, 6th November, 1918. I have the honour to inform you that I did not fail to convey to my Ministers the substance of your despatch, Dominions No. 476, enclosing copy of a resolution passed by the Imperial War Conference, relating to reciprocity of treatment between India and the Dominions, and enclosing also a copy of a memorandum on the subject prepared by Sir S. P. Sinha. 2. I am advised by my Ministers to reply that, so far as the Government of New Zealand are concerned, no administrative or legislative action appears to be necessary to give effect to the articles of agreement approved by the Imperial War Conference on the 24th July, 1918. Provision already exists for the admission of merchants, tourists, and bona fide students of all nationalities who are unable to pass the education test imposed by the Immigration Restric-

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tion Act, 1908, provided they are in possession of passports issued by their respective Governments. 3. Indians domiciled in New Zealand are subject to no disabilities. They have equal rights and privileges in every respect with Europeans. An Indian domiciled in the Dominion would be entitled to bring in his wife and children if the wife and children were certified by the Government of India, or if there were proof of a permanent monogamous marriage. I have, &e, LIVERPOOL, The Right Hon. Walter H. Long, M.P., Governor-General. Secretary of State for the Colonies.

No. 14. New Zealand, No. 225. Sir,— Government House, Wellington, 6th November, 1918. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch, No. 153, of the 23rd August, enclosing copies of a Circular Instruction to Examiners and Notice to Candidates issued by the Board of Trade regarding relaxations in the regulations relating to the examination of engineers in the mercantile marine. 2. My Prime Minister advises me that as the qualifications of candidates for examination for New Zealand certificates of competency as third-class engineer (which is the lowest-grade seagoing engineer's certificate granted in the Dominion) are fixed by statute — i.e., by subsection (5) of section 22 of the Shipping and Seamen Act, 1908, a similar relaxation to that which has been made by the Imperial Board of Trade cannot be made in New Zealand without altering the Act, and this it is not proposed to do at present. I have, &c, LIVERPOOL, The Right Hon. Walter H. Long, M.P., Governor-General. Secretary of State for the Colonies.

A.-2, 1918. No. :iB.

No. 15. New Zealand, No. 240. Sir, — Government House, Wellington, 29th November, 1918. I have the honour to transmit to you the accompanying copies of the Address in Reply from the Legislative Council and the House of Representatives respectively. I have, &c, LIVERPOOL, The Right Hon. Walter 11. Long, M.P., Governor-General. Secretary of State for the Colonies.

Enclosures. Address from the Legislative Council. November, 1918. To His Excellency the Right Honourable Arthur William de Brito Savile, Earl of Liverpool, Member of His Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, Knight Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, Knight Grand Cross of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, Member of the Royal Victorian Order, Knight of Grace of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem, Governor-General and Com-mander-in-Chief in and over His Majesty's Dominion of New Zealand and its Dependencies. May it please Your Excellency,— We, His Majesty's most dutiful and loyal subjects, the members of the Legislative Council of New Zealand in Parliament assembled, beg leave to offer our thanks to Your Excellency for the Speech which Your Excellency has addressed to both Houses. We are gratified at the altered conditions in connection with the war as enunciated by Your Excellency, and proud of the part taken by the New Zealand Forces in the cause of the Empire. In Your Excellency's Speech, delivered at the opening of our present session, reference was made to the extreme tension which then existed, and to strong reasons for then believing that peace would not be long delayed. We address Your Excellency in reply after the conclusion of an armistice with Germany, the terms of which demonstrate the overwhelming defeat of the enemy and the complete victory of the armies of Great Britain and her Allies.

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We are pleased to learn that the Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance were able to advance the interests of New Zealand in many important respects during their recent visit to Great Britain. We beg to assure Your Excellency that the matters referred to in the Speech which you have been pleased to deliver will receive our most careful consideration, and we join with Your Excellency in trusting that Divine Providence may guide our deliberations to the advantage of our Sovereign, of iiis Empire, and of this Dominion. Address from the House of Representatives. To His Excellency the Bight Honourable Arthur William de Brito Savile, Earl of Liverpool, Member of His Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, Knight Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, Knight Grand Cross of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, Member of the Royal Victorian Order, Knight of Grace of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem, Governor-General and Com-mander-in-Chief in and over His Majesty's Dominion of New Zealand and its Dependencies. May it please Your Exkllency,— We, His Majesty's most dutiful and loyal subjects, the Representatives of the people of New Zealand in Parliament assembled, beg leave to offer our thanks to Your Excellency for the Speecli which Your Excellency has addressed to both Houses. We are gratified at the altered conditions in connection with the war as enunciated by Your Excellency, and proud of the part taken by the New Zealand Forces in the cause of the Empire. We concur with Your Excellency that the position at present is one of extreme tension : that there are strong reasons for believing that peace will not be long delayed, but at the same time recognize with Your Excellency that there must be no relaxation of effort on our part. We also are pleased to learn that the Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance were able to advance the interests of New Zealand in many important respects during their recent visit to Great Britain. We beg to assure Your Excellency that the matters referred to in the Speech which you have been pleased to deliver will receive our most careful consideration, and we join with Your Excellency in trusting that Divine Providence may guide our deliberations to the advantage of our Sovereign, of his Empire, and of this Dominion.

No. 16. New Zealand, No. 243. Sir, — Government House, Wellington, 9th December, 1918. With reference to your despatch, Dominions No. 462, of the 26th August last, regarding the proposed appointment of an Advisory Council to assist the Department of Commerce and Industry of the Board of Trade, I have the honour to inform you that I have been asked by my Prime Minister to nominate the Honourable Sir Thomas Mackenzie, K.C.M.G., High Commissioner for New Zealand in London, as this Dominion's representative on the above-mentioned Council for the period of one year. I have, &e, LIVERPOOL, The Right Hon. Walter H. Long, M.P., Governor-General. Secretary of State for the Colonies.

A.-2, 1918 No. 41.

No, 17. New Zealand, No. 256. Sir, — Government House, Wellington, 31st December, 1918. I have the honour to transmit to you the accompanying copy of a memorandum which has been addressed to me by my Acting Prime Minister, asking that favourable consideration be given to the suggestion contained therein as regards the amendment of the conditions of eligibility for the award of the Colonial Auxiliary Forces Officers' Decoration. A copy of the New Zealand regulations, referred to in the memorandum, is also attached. I have, &e, LIVERPOOL, The Right Hon. Walter H. Long, M.P., Governor-General. Secretary of State for the Colonies.

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. . Enclosure. Prime Minister's Office, Wellington, 23rd December, 1918. Memorandum for His Excellency the Governor-General. The Acting Prime Minister presents his compliments to His Excellency the Governor-General, and, with reference to the Royal Warrant dated the I.Bth May, 1899, as amended by that of the 3rd August, 1902, relative to the constitution and creation of the Colonial Auxiliary Forces Officers' Decoration, respectfully suggests that the Army Council be requested to consider an amendment which it is proposed to make to the New Zealand regulations governing the award of this decoration. At the present time, under the New Zealand regulations, honorary colonels to regiments may become eligible for the Colonial Auxiliary Forces Officers' Decoration by serving for twenty years in that capacity. It is proposed to so amend the regulations that the decoration will not be issuable to other than officers who have served actively as commissioned officers for the required period of twenty years. Two copies of the New Zealand regulations governing the issue of this decoration are attached for His Excellency's information. The suggestion is that para. 15 (1.) (b) of the regulations be cancelled, and the following substituted : — " (6.) Honorary Colonels who before their appointment as such have performed twenty years' commissioned service as active regimental officers, and Chaplains having the qualifying service of twenty years." J. Allen, Acting Prime Minister. Regulations for the New Zealand Fcwrces, 1917.—Amended Regulations. 15. The Colonial Auxiliary Forces Officers' Decoration is issued in accordance with the Royal Warrant of the 18th May, 1919, subject to the following conditions: — (1.) (a.) Officers having twenty years' commissioned service, which need not be continuous. (h.) Honorary Colonels and Honorary Chaplains who have the qualifying service of twenty years. , (c.) Officers who have retired and have qualifying service. Qua Hfying Ser vic e. (2.) («.) Service rendered partly in the local Forces of one colony or protectorate, or partly in the local Forces of one or more colonies or protectorates, and partly in the Auxiliary Forces of Great Britain, shall be reckoned, service on the west coast of Africa counting double. (h.) Half the time served in the ranks of the Auxiliary Forces of any colony or protectorate, Indian Volunteers, or the Auxiliary Forces of Great Britain shall also be reckoned. (3.) Service of the N.Z. Staff Corps, R.N.Z.A., or in Defence Rifle Clubs shall not reckon as qualifying service for the decoration. (i.) Application for the decoration shall be made i i writing by the officer commanding the corps to which the applicant belongs to the Officer Commanding the District, who shall forward it, together with his recommendation, as provided for in para. (5), to the G.O.C. N.Z. Forces. Particulars of applicant's service shall be inserted and verified by the Adjutant-General on Form A. The G.O.C. N.Z. Forces shall then forward his recommendation on Form B or Form C through the usual channels of correspondence to the Governor-General. Officers who have performed part of the necessary qualifying service in other portions of the Empire than New Zealand must produce particulars of the previous service, certified to by competent authority. (5.) The decoration being granted as a reward for good and long service, Os.C. Districts should in each case state in general terms the reason which in their opinion gives the applicant a claim to receive the decoration. (6.) The grant of the decoration shall be published in the Government Gazette. (7.) The letters " T.D." shall be inserted in the Army List against the name of the officer to whom the decoration is given. (8.) When the conduct oT an officer, after he has been awarded the Colonial Auxiliary Forces Officers' Decoration, has been such as to disqualify him from wearing it, he may be deprived of it by the Governor-General. (9.) A decoration forfeited by an officer under the above provisions may be restored to him by the Governor-General. (10.) When a decoration has been lost and it is desired to replace it, a declaration must be made before a Magistrate or a Justice of the Peace, stating the circumstances under which the loss occurred, and the rank, name, company, and unit of the officer to whom the decoration belonged. This declaration shall be forwarded to the G.O.C, through the usual channel of correspondence in the case of an officer who is still serving, and direct in the case of one who has retired. The decoration shall be replaced on payment of cost if the explanation as to the loss is considered satisfactory.

Approximate Co.st of Paper. —Preparation, not given ; printing (750 copies), £10 10s.

Authority: Marous F. Marks, Government Printer, Wellington. -1919.

Price (id.]