44

A.—2

(B.) Summary Punishments. 1. In the case of men borne on the books of a ship of the Royal Navy the ordinary routine is to be followed. 2. In the case of men borne on the books of a ship provided and maintained by the Dominion attached to a fleet or squadron of the Royal Navy, or are temporarily under the orders of an officer of the Royal Navy, the provisions of Article 770 are to apply, it being left, however, to the Commanding Officer of the Dominion ship to carry out the sentence. When any cases are referred by the Commanding Officer to his senior officer for approval under Sections 11, V, VI, and VII of Chapter XIX and under Chapter XXI of the King's Regulations, the latter officer is to seek to be guided by the practice of the Dominion in coming to a decision. 3. Commanders-in-Chief of the Royal Navy are not in any case to exercise with regard to subordinate officers the powers conferred by section 57 of the Naval Discipline Act. In cases where—if the offender belonged to the Royal Nayy —the Commander-in-Chief would have acted under the powers conferred by that section he is to send a confidential report in writing of the circumstances to the Minister of the Dominion requesting him to take such steps in the case as he may be advised (C.) Relations in Time of War. In time of war when Dominion ships and men have been placed at the disposal of the Admiralty the Naval Discipline Act applies exactly in the same manner as to the officers and men of the Royal Navy, and the usual routine is to be followed without any modification.

No. 50. New Zealand, No. 339. My Lord, — Downing Street, 6th August, 1914. With reference to my despatch, No. 343, of the 11th October, 1911, I have the honour to request Your Excellency to inform your Ministers that the Secretary of State for War has decided, with His Majesty's approval, that the two offices of Inspector-General of the Home Forces and Inspector-General of the Oversea Forces should again be merged and held by one officer, with the title of " Inspector-General of the Forces," and that the appointment of General Officer Commanding in Chief, Mediterranean Command, should be allowed to lapse. General Sir lan Hamilton's tenure of his appointment as Inspector-General of the Oversea Forces expired at the end of July, from which date the change took place. 2. As Sir lan Hamilton has during his term of office visited all the selfgoverning dominions and nearly all the stations abroad, outside India, at which British troops are stationed, it will not be necessary for a similar tour of inspection to be undertaken immediately by his successor. Should, however, your Government desire at any time that an inspection of the Forces of New Zealand should be made His Majesty's Government will be glad to arrange for such inspection to be carried out either by the Inspector-General of the Forces or by officers of high rank and distinction in the service specially selected for the particular case. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor His Excellency the Right Hon. the Earl of Liverpool, G.C.M.G., M.V.0., &c.

A.-l, 1915, No. 44.

No. 51. New Zealand, No. 341. My Lord, — Downing Street, 6th August, 1914. With reference to my telegram of the 3rd instant, I have the honour to transmit to Your Excellency, for the information of your Ministers, the accompanying copies of a Proclamation by the King, dated the 2nd August, for postponing the payment of certain bills of exchange, and of an Act to authorize His Majesty by Proclamation to suspend temporarily the payment of bills of exchange and payments in pursuance of other obligations. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor His Excellency the Right Hon. the EarT of Liverpool, G.C.M.G., M.V.0., &c.