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From Governor of New Zealand to Secretary of State for the Colonies. Bth February, ■ . 1916. With reference to your cipher telegram dated 24th January : My Ministers would be glad to learn whether the " lonic " has been released from the duties she was stated to be engaged upon, and the date of her departure for New Zealand. —Liverpool. From Governor of New Zealand to Secretary of State for the Colonies. 17th February, 1916. Prime Minister asks whether you would be so kind as to support representations of Government of New Zealand contained in their telegram to High Commissioner dated 15th February with reference to relieving congestion in freezing-stores, which my Government regard as a matter of greatest importance and urgency. High Commissioner for New Zealand will supply copy of telegram in question.—Liverpool. From Secretary of State for the Colonies to Governor of New Zealand. Dated 23rd February, received 24th February, 1916. With reference to your telegram of 17th February : Board of Trade and Tonnage Committee are from day to day making every effort in their power to meet requirements of New Zealand. " Dorset," " Makarini," " Carpentaria " recently allotted to New Zealand. —Bonar Law. From Governor of New Zealand to Secretary of State for the Colonies. 2nd March, 1916. A report has reached the Prime Minister that the steamship " Ruapehu " has been requisitioned for Imperial purposes, and he would therefore be glad to know if this information is correct. Great difficulty is already being experienced owing to the shortage of insulated steamers, and, as at the end of March every freezing-store in this Dominion will be full, the Prime Minister hopes that if the above-mentioned ship has been requisitioned His Majesty's Government will be able to see their way to release her. Prime Minister adds that the number of ships already made available for the New Zealand trade is eleven less than those that were available for the same period in 1915.—Liverpool. From Secretary of State for the Colonies to Governor of New Zealand. Dated 6th March, received 7th March, 1916. With reference to your telegram of 2nd March : " Ruapehu " has not been requisitioned.— Bonar Law. From Governor of New Zealand to Secretary of State for the Colonies. 25th March, 1916. The Government of New Zealand would be grateful for your advice in the following circumstances : alt the present time they have under charter s.s. " Waitemata," s.s. " Waihora," and s.s. " Aparima," due in New Zealand early in June after completing their voyages with horses to Egypt. In view of the shortage of shipping and the difficulties of replacing if required any Government does not desire to release the above-mentioned transports for mercantile purposes. The situation in June as far as present information goes is—firstly, further horses may be required or forage and stores for Egypt; secondly, Admiralty require 7,000 tons of coal to be delivered at Singapore every month; thirdly, the above-mentioned vessels could carry wool from here to the United Kingdom. I have been requested to address this,telegram to you owing to the War Office having sent a telegram to the Defence Minister in reply to his inquiries saying that no reliable estimate could be given of the normal requirements of horses to be supplied by New Zealand in 1916. —Liverpool . From Governor of New Zealand to Secretary of State for the Colonies. 30th March, 1916. With reference to my telegram of 25th March re the employment of three transports : Reply very urgently required.—Liverpool. From Governor of New Zealand to Secretary of State for the Colonies. Bth April, 1916. There is large accumulation of wool, hemp, tallow, and general produce at New Zealand ports awaiting exportation to United Kingdom which owing to shortage of tonnage it is impossible to ship. Prime Minister asks me to make urgent representations to you pointing out that business community here seriously affected by present position, and requesting that additional tonnage may be made available for N ew Zealand in order to deal with existing congestion, and also urging that due provision for future requirements should be made particularly as regards hemp and other produce.—Liverpool. From Governor of New Zealand to Secretary of State for the Colonies. 14th April, 1916. I am desired by my Prime Minister to explain to you that a very serious inconvenience and loss is being created here by the shortage of shipping, not only for the conveyance of wool aud meat to the United Kingdom, but also for trade between New Zealand and Australia. The Prime Minister therefore hopes that this condition of affairs will receive your urgent consideration. It is understood that the British steamer " Physa," at present in Australian waters (probably at Newcastle), and the " Cyrena," now at Wellington, will shortly be sent to Singapore for oil. In view of the Admiralty's urgent requirements in the matter of coal it is suggested by my Prime Minister that these ships should be requisitioned in order that they could each carry a cargo

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