A.—2.

4

2. The " non-accounting " system, by which the United Kingdom and United States Post Offices each retained the postage 'collected in respect of parcels in transit to the other, was not unfavourable to the United Kingdom before the war ; but during the war it became unfavourable owing to the disproportionate number of parcels received by the United Kingdom Post Office on account of the presence of United States troops in Europe. Efforts to obtain some payment from the United States Post Office in respect of the excess parcels have not, however, so far been successful. As it is unlikely that any such payment will be made, and as the conditions in the Anglo-America parcel-post appear to be gradually approaching the normal, it may be decided not to press the United States Post Office to agree to the introduction of accounting. 3. The United States Post Office has recently concluded an agreement with the Straits Settlements for the payment by the office of origin to the office of destination of the sum of 1 franc per parcel. A similar arrangement is in force between the Union of South Africa and the United States, the amount payable in the latter c tse being cents per pound. It is therefore possible that the United States Administration would now be willing to agree to an accounting system for parcels exchanged with New Zealand if the New Zealand Postal Administration should desire to press the point. I have, &c, WINSTON S. CHURCHILL. Governor-General His Excellency the Right Hon. Viscount Jellicoe, G.C.8., 0.M., G.C.V.0., &c.

No. 7. New Zealand, No. 255. My Lord, Downing Street, 21st December, 1921. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Excellency's despatch, No. 230, of the 27th October, and to request you to inform your Ministers that the two copies of the last Annual Report of the Royal New Zealand Society for the Health of Women and Children have been laid before their Majesties the King and Queen, who were pleased to receive them very graciously. I have, &c, WINSTON S. CHURCHILL. Governor-General His Excellency the Right Hon. Viscount Jcllicoe'G.C.B., 0.M., G.C.V.0., &c.

No. 8. New Zealand, No. 20. My Lord, — Downing Street, 31st January, 1922. With reference to my predecessor's despatch, No. 275, of the 20th December, 1920, 1 have the honour to request Your Excellency to inform your Ministers that the Managing Committee of the Imperial Bureau of [Mycology desire to express their appreciation of the generous response which has been made to the appeal for the funds necessary for the maintenance of the Bureau on a sound footing. 2. It was estimated that the minimum annual income on which the work of the Bureau could be carried out was £5,000, and, as the amount promised approximately reaches that figure, the Bureau is now in a position to carry out the full programme of work contemplated at the time of its organization. With this object in view the committee have decided to undertake the publication of a monthly Review of Applied Mycology on the lines of the journal already issued by the Imperial Bureau of Entomology. 3. The first number of the journal will be issued during the current month, and I should be glad if the attention of all officers who are interested in mycological matters could be drawn to the accompanying memorandum which has been prepared by the Director of the Bureau.