A.—2.

submit schemes adapted to their own special requirements. This course will, it is felt, leave oversea Governments free to determine the class of pedigree animal whose importation should thus be specially encouraged and the agencies for importation to whom special facilities should be given. 6. In adopting this course the Board have laid down the following general governing limitations : — (i) Assistance from the Empire Marketing Fund will be given only to those parts of the Empire which have established, or can show a reasonable prospect of establishing, an export trade to this country in meat, hides, wool, or dairy-produce. This limitation is inevitable, having regard to the terms of the parliamentary vote attached to the Empire Marketing Fund. (ii) Assistance will only be given in the case of voyages of over one thousand miles. (iii) Contributions from the Empire Marketing Fund will be made conditional upon an equal amount being contributed by or through the oversea Government concerned. The oversea contribution required might be made either by a Government or, for example, by an oversea Breed Society. But in the latter case the terms of any scheme proposed should exclude the possibility of the oversea contribution coming merely from the pocket of an individual importer (iv) The total liabilities of the fund towards all parts of the Empire under schemes so framed and approved will be limited to a maximum of £50,000 per annum, and to an experimental period of two years. 7. The Board accordingly invite His Majesty's Government in New Zealand, should they so desire, to frame and forward a scheme within the broad lines indicated, together with an estimate of its proable annual cost. In the event of such a scheme being agreed, the responsibility for its administration would be left to the oversea Government concerned, a lump annual grant being made from the Empire Marketing Fund to that Government upon such conditions as the approved scheme might indicate. 8. It is hoped that in some cases the framing of a satisfactory scheme will enable the Government concerned to negotiate special freight arrangements with steamship companies. It is requested that any proposals submitted should indicate what steps it has been found possible to take in that direction, and their result. 9. Similar despatches are being sent to Canada, the Commonwealth of Australia, the Union of South Africa, Newfoundland, and Southern Rhodesia. I have, &c. (For the Secretarv of State), LOVAT. Governor-General His Excellency General Sir C. Fergusson, Bart., LL.D., G.C.M.G., K.C.8., D.5.0., M.V.0.. &c.

No. 39. New Zealand, No. 179. Sir, — Downing Street, Bth September, 1927. I have the honour to state that the Italian Government have invited His Majesty's Governments in Canada, the Commonwealth of Australia, New Zealand, the Union of South Africa, and the Irish Free State to be represented by suitable delegates at the Fourth International Congress of Domestic Economy, to be held at Rome on the 14th November, 1927. 2. This Congress will be under the distinguished patronage of Her Majesty the Queen of Italy and the Honorary Presidency of His Excellency the Prime Minister of Italy. The initiative in the matter has been taken by the Italian committee, and the Congress is under the auspices of the International Bureau at Fribourg

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