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of that Act debarred from practising as solicitors in New Zealand, to practise as King's Counsel at the Bar in England, upon producing proof to the satisfaction of the authorities of the Inns of Court that the applicant holds a patent as one of His Majesty's Counsel and that the local law in New Zealand disentitles him to practise as a solicitor. 2. You will doubtless advise me in due course, for communication to my Ministers, the result of the application. I have, &c.> LIVERPOOL, The Right Hon. A. Bonar Law, P.0., &o, Governor. Secretary of State for the Colonies.

Enclosure. Prime Minister's Office, Wellington, 3rd June, 1916. Memorandum for His Excellency the Governor. The Prime Minister presents his compliments to His Excellency the Governor, and has the honour to request His Excellency to communicate with the Secretary of State for the Colonies urging that application be made to the authorities of the Inns of Court to permit members of the New Zealand Bar who may hold the patent of King's Counsel dated after the passing of the New Zealand Law Practitioners Amendment Act, 1915, and who will be by section 3 of that Act debarred from practising as solicitors in New Zealand, to practise as King's Counsel at the Bar in England, upon producing proof to the satisfaction of the authorities of the Inns of Court that the applicant holds a patent as one of His Majesty's Counsel and that the local law in New Zealand disentitles him to practise as a solicitor. For His Excellency's information it may be stated that in the year 1902 the Secretary of State for the Colonies was communicated with by the New Zealand Government at the instance of the New Zealand Law Society to endeavour to arrange with the authorities of the Inns of Court to establish reciprocal relations between the Bar of England and the Bar of New Zealand by providing that barristers admitted to practise at the New Zealand Bar be permitted to practise in England, and that barristers admitted to the Bar in England be given similar privileges in New Zealand. That request was duly considered by the four Inns of Court, and the following resolution, contained in a despatch, " General," from the Secretary of Stafe for the Colonies, dated the 9th April, 1903, was passed : — " That, inasmuch as facilities for joining the English Bar have always been confined to those colonies where the professions of barrister and of attorney and solicitor have been kept distinct, and that when such facilities have been granted to a colony where the said professions were kept distinct they have been withdrawn when the two professions have been amalgamated : and whereas it appears that in the Colony of New Zealand the same persons may and do practise both as barristers and solicitors and attorneys, according to the rules and legal procedure of the said colony, the Committee are of opinion that the facilities for joining the English Bar requested by the Law Society of New Zealand cannot be granted. The Committee recommend that no alteration be made in the practice hitherto adopted, and that the applications of the New Zealand Law Society be not complied with." The New Zealand Law Practitioners Amendment Act, 1915, which came into operation on the 12th October, 1915, meets somewhat the objection of the Inns of Court, in that now no member of the New Zealand Bar who may be granted the patent of King's Counsel is permitted to practise as a solicitor either alone or in partnership with any other solicitor. It is hoped therefore by the New Zealand Bar that the alteration in the New Zealand law affecting barristers who may in the future be appointed His Majesty's Counsel will enable the Inns of Court to approve 'of the application now made. A copy of the Law Practitioners Amendment Act, 1915, is attached for His Excellency's information. W. F. Massey, Prime Minister.

No. 31. New Zealand, No. 142. Sir, — Government House, Wellington, 9th June, 1916. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch, No. 273, of the 14th April, stating that it has been decided to reduce to half an ounce

A.-2, 1917, No. 33.