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thereto. The Congress will be followed by a field excursion with the object of enabling delegates to become acquainted with the soil types of the United States. 3. The Charge d'Affaires observed that the extensive subject-matter embraced within the scope of the Congress makes it especially desirable that the delegates from the different countries should be as numerous and as representative of the various theoretical and applied aspects of soil science as may be possible. The United States Government have accordingly expressed the hope that the various Governments concerned will regard the Congress as of such a nature that it is to their interest to accept the invitation, and they have expressed the desire that a notification of the names of any delegates appointed may be made at the earliest convenient date. 4. I should be glad to learn what reply your Ministers would wish to be returned to the United States Government as regards New Zealand. I have, &c., L. S. AMERY. Governor-General His Excellency General Sir C. Fergusson, Bart.. LL.D., G.C.M.G. K.C.B, D.5.0., M.V.O &c.

No. 9. New Zealand, No. 24. Sir, — Downing Street, 28tli January, 1927. I have the honour to request Your Excellency to invite the attention of your Ministers to the recommendations of the Imperial Air Communications Special Sub-Connnittee of the Imperial Conference (which were adopted by the Imperial Conference at its fifteenth meeting, on the 19th November, 1926) on the subject of airship development. 2. The sub - committee recommended that — " In view of (a) the great potentialities of the airship, and (b) the present lack of constructional and other facilities, which must prove a serious obstacles to the early development of regular airship services, . . . the Governments of the Dominions concerned and of India should examine the possiblity of erecting nucleus mooring-mast bases, to be available for demonstration flights in 1928-29 by the two airships now under construction, and of instituting such preliminary meteorological investigations as may be necessary to facilitate these demonstration flights. . . ." 3. The Government of the Union of South Africa having decided to establish a mooring-mast base in their territory, the Air Council propose that a party should be sent to visit South Africa with the object of advising as to the selection of a suitable site for the base. The party will consist of Group Captain P. F. M. Fellowes, D.5.0., A.D.C., R.A.F., Director of Airship Development, Mr. M. A. Giblett, Superintendent of Airship Meteorological Work, and Flight Lieutenant S. Nixon, 0.8. E., R.A.F., of the Royal Airship Works. 4. It is further proposed, as a result of discussions with the Prune Minister of the Commonwealth of Australia, that the party should proceed from South Africa to Australia, arriving at Perth on the 26th June. In that event they would also be available to visit New Zealand later, with a view to advising as the selection of a site in New Zealand, should your Ministers so desire, in which case it is requested that ample notice may be given in order that the necessary arrangements may be made. 6. A copy of the programme of the proposed visit is enclosed, together with a copy of a memorandum drawn up in the Air Ministry on the subject of " Technical and Operational Requirements of Site for Airship Base." I have, &c., L. S. AMERY. Governor-General His Excellency General Sir C. Fergusson, Bart., LL.D., G.C.M.G., K.C.8., D.5.0., M.Y.0., &c.

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