A.—No. 9,

PAPERS RELATIVE TO INTERCOLONIAL RECIPROCITY.

No. 1. The Hon. W. Milne to the Hon. W. Gisbobne. Chief Secretary's Office, Sic, — Adelaide, South Australia, 3rd November, 1871. I have the honor, by desire of His Excellency Sir James Fergusson, to forward herewith, for the information of your Government, copy of a Bill passed by the Legislature of this Province, intituled " An Act to make better provisions for the Interchange of Colonial Productions and Manufactures between the Colonies of Australasia," which was reserved by His Excellency, on the 26th ultimo, for the signification of Her Majesty's pleasure thereon. I have, &c, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, New Zealand. William Milne.

Enclosure in No. 1. An Act to make better provisions for the Interchange of Colonial Products and Manufactures between the Colonies of Australasia. [Reserved, 26th October, 1871.] Wheeeas the free interchange between the Colonies of New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, Queensland, Western Australia, New Zealand, and South Australia of their respective products and manufactures is restricted by reason of the obligation which is now by law imposed upon the said Colonies to subject such products and manufactures, upon admission into any of the said Colonies, to the same duties of Customs as are imposed upon the like products and manufactures when the same are imported from other places: And whereas such restriction prejudicially affects the trade and commerce between the said Colonies, and it is desirable that such restriction should be removed or modified : And whereas it is necessary to this end that each of the said Colonies should be empowered to make arrangements with the others for the interchange of their respective products and manufactures, on such terms as may be mutually agreed upon: Be it therefore enacted by the Governor of the Province of South Australia, with the advice and consent of the Legislative Council and House of Assembly of the said Province, in this present Parliament assembled, as follows : — 1. The Governor, with the advice of the Executive Council, may enter into an agreement with the Governors of the Colonies of New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, Queensland, Western Australia, and New Zealand, or with any of them, for the admission into South Australia of all or any of the products and manufactures (except spirits and tobacco) of the said Colonies, or of any of them, free from Customs duties or other charges, or at such reduced duties and charges as the Governor, with the advice aforesaid, thinks fit: Provided that every Colony with whose Governor such agreement shall be entered into, shall agree to admit the products and manufactures of South Australia, or some of them (except spirits and tobacco), either free from all duties and charges, or at such reduced duties and charges as may be agreed upon. 2. Any such agreement may be entered into for a period not exceeding ten years ; but there shall be inserted in such agreement a stipulation that such agreement may be terminated by any or either of the parties thereto after one year's notice of the intention to terminate such agreement shall have been given to the other party or parties to such agreement, in a manner to be provided therein. 3. Any such agreement may be altered or terminated at any time by the Governor, with the advice of the Executive Council, with the consent of the Governor of every Colony who is a party to such agreement, or may be terminated by notice to be given as before mentioned, but not otherwise. 4. The Governor shall, by Proclamation to be published in the South Australian Government Gazette, declare and make known the products and manufactures which under such agreement are exempted from duty and charges, or subjected to reduced duty and charges, as the case may be; and thereupon such products and manufactures may be imported free of duty or other charge, or subject to such reduced duty or charge as is set forth in such Proclamation, so long as such agreement as aforesaid continues in force. 5. Every alteration or rescission of any such agreement shall be made known by Proclamation to be published in the said Gazette. 6. The Governor, with the advice of the Executive Council, may make orders for carrying this Act into effect, and for determining what articles come within its provisions; and any such orders may from time to time be altered or rescinded by the Governor, with the advice aforesaid: Provided that all such orders shall be published in the said Gazette. 7. This Act may be cited as the " Intercolonial Free Trade Act, 1871."