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No. 17. New Zealand, No. 116. Sir, - Government House, Wellington, 21st April, 1917. With reference to previous telegraphic correspondence relative to the question of the shipment of rabbits from this Dominion to the United Kingdom, I have the honour to transmit to you the accompanying copy of a memorandum which has been addressed to me on the subject by my ActingPrime Minister, and on which my telegram of the 20th instant was based. I have, &c, LIVERPOOL, The Right Hon. Walter H. Long, M.P., Governor. Secretary of State for the Colonies. Enclosure. Prime Minister's Offioe, Wellington, 16th April, 1917. Memorandum for His Exoellency the Governor. The Acting Prime Minister presents his compliments to His Excellency, and begs to acknowledge the receipt of the telegram of the 17th ultimo, regarding canned rabbits, from the Right Honourable the Secretary of State for the Colonies. It is regretted that the Government has been unable to make a mutual arrangement with rabbit-canners for carrying out the request contained in that telegram, owing to the present f.o.b. value of canned rabbits being considerably in excess of Bs. per dozen 2 lb. tins. His Excellency is respectfully referred to the Acting Prime Minister's memorandum of the 22nd February, in which it was shown that the high values of rabbit-skins had considerably appreciated values of rabbits generally; and it will be further gathered from that memorandum that the price stated therein for canned rabbits —viz., about Bs. per dozen tins—was contingent upon the New Zealand Government requisitioning rabbit-skins in addition to frozen and canned rabbits. This proposal was not acceptable to the Board of Trade, atid, having in view the fact that, the season's work is now in operation, to now revert to it would entail very serious dissatisfaction among all connected with the business, seeing that forward contracts for supplies have been made. His Excellency's Ministers have been and are fully desirous of meeting the wishes of His Majesty's Government in this matter, and are not in sympathy with the creation of high market values for rabbits, seeing that they constitute a pest in the Dominion, but the position is now strongly influenced by the high ruling market conditions for skins, and, as a result, for frozen and canned carcases, and by the fact that the considerable number of persons engaged in the industry created by the exportation of rabbits and rabbit-skins have to meet the increased cost of living consequent upon the war. Exporters' statements indicate that under existing conditions, cost of labour and of material for canning, they consider they should receive lis. per dozen tins f.o.b. A corresponding price for frozen rabbits would be 225. per crate f.0.b., covering all grades. ,m In view of the position as regards refrigerated shipping-space, His Excellency's Ministers respectfully suggest that the Imperial Government, after consideration of the position as set forth in this and previous memoranda, finally fix f.o.b. prices at which it is willing to purchase both, canned and frozen rabbits. The New Zealand Government will then notify those concerned that it is prepared to purchase at these prices. W. H. Hurries, For Acting Prime Minister.

No. 18. New Zealand, No. 122. Sir, — Government House, Wellington, 7th May, 1917. I have the honour to inform you, in reply to your despatch, Dominions No. 108, of the 13th February last, that the Government of New Zealand make no objection to the imposition of the war tax mentioned in the despatch in respect of letters and postal packets from the Turks and Caicos Islands and of letters from the Cayman Islands. I have, &o, LIVERPOOL, The Right Hon. Walter H. Long, M.P., Governor. Secretary of State for the Colonies.

/ No. 19. New Zealand, No. 131. Sir,— Government House. Wellington, 7th May, 1917. With reference to my despatch, No. 92, of the 26th March, I have the honour to transmit to you the accompanying copy of a memorandum addressed