A.—2

18

and amended so as to apply to 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 are by law for the time being debarred from practising as solicitors in New Zealand; and that letters should be sent by each of the four Inns to the Secretary of State for the Colonies intimating that the four Inns are willing to extend and amend Regulation 43 in this sense, if requested so to do by the New Zealand Government." 3. The Consolidated Regulation No. 43 referred to in this resolution is as follows : — " While the two branches of the profession are kept distinct in New South Wales, Ceylon, and the Cape of Good Hope, as at present, and the regulations affecting the call to the Bars of those colonies remain substantially as at present, any member of the Bar of New South Wales, or of the Bar of Ceylon, and any member of the Bar of the Cape of Good Hope, qualified under the Charter of June, 1834, or the Acts of 1858 and 1873, or either of them, being a barrister of three years' standing, may, on presenting a certificate of his call to any of such Bars, duly authenticated, and a certificate from a Judge of the Supreme Court of the colony, and from the Attorney-General or senior Law Officer thereof, that the applicant is a fit and proper person to be called to the English Bar, be admitted as a student without having passed any of the examinations referred to in Regulation 1, and without producing any certificates such as are specified in Regulation 2, and without making the declaration prescribed by Regulation 4 and, after keeping three terms, be called to the English Bar without submitting to the examination for call to the Bar." 4. As regards the terms of this resolution, it may be helpful to point out that the effect of the acceptance by your Government of the proposed concession would be to give to 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, the same facilities for call to the English Bar as are now enjoyed by members of the Irish Bar of three years' standing. 5. I have to request that the proposal of the Joint Committee may be referred for the consideration of your Ministers. I have, &c, WALTER H. LONG. Governor His Excellency the Right Hon. the Earl of Liverpool, G.C.M.G., M.V.0., &c.

No. 23. New Zealand, Dominions No. 189. My Lord,— Downing Street, 21st March, 1917. With reference to my despatch, No. 1009, of the 30th December, 1916, and my predecessor's despatch, No. 770, of the 27th September, 1916, I have the honour to request Your Excellency to inform your Ministers that His Majesty's Government have decided to increase the rates of premium charged under the Government war-risks insurance scheme as from the 19th March. 2. The new rates are as follows :— £ s. d. Cargo, per voyage ... ... ... 3 3 0 per cent. Hulls— A voyage ... ... ... 1 10 0 ~ A round voyage ... ... ... 3 0 0 Ninety-one days'time policy ... 3 0 0 ~ I have, &c, WALTER 11. LONG. Governor His Excellency the Right Hon. the Earl of Liverpool, G.C.M.G., M.V.0., &c.