15

A.-1

No. 31. New Zealand, No. 77. My Lord,— Government House, Wellington, 30th September, 1909. I have the honour to acknowledge your Lordship's despatch, No. 141, of the 14th July, with reference to the next census in New Zealand. 2. My Ministers inform me that the next quinquennial census of this Dominion will be taken on or about the '2nd of April, 1911, but the actual date has not yet been fixed. 3. The whole of the information indicated in the statement enclosed with your Lordship's despatch will then be obtained. I have, &c, PLUNKET, Governor. To the Earl of Crewe, Secretary of State for the Colonies.

A.—2, 1910, No. 62.

No. 32. New Zealand, No. 78. My Lord, — Government House, Wellington, 30th September, 1909. I have the honour to inform your Lordship that I have now received a memorandum from my Government on the subject of your Lordship's despatch, No. 150, of the 3rd of September, 1908, concerning the presentation of an iron smooth-bore gun by the Admiralty, for the memorial to Captain Cook at Ship Cove, Queen Charlotte Sound. 2. The gun was landed at Wellington, and duly handed over to the Captain Cook Memorial Committee. 3. I am desired to express the thanks of the New Zealand Government for the presentation of this gun, which is greatly appreciated by the Committee. I have, &c, PLUNKET, Governor. To the Earl of Crewe, Secretary of State for the Colonies.

No. 33. New Zealand, No. 80. My Lord,— Government House, Wellington, 11th October, 1909. I have the honour to acknowledge your despatch, No. 14, of the 21st January, on the subject of the prohibition of the use of white phosphorus in the manufacture of matches, in which your Lordship inquires whether the New Zealand Government desire that a notification of their adhesion should be made under Article 3 of the Berne Convention of the 26th September, 1906. 2. 1 duly submitted the matter to my Government for their consideration, and have now received the following reply from my Prime Minister : " This matter has been referred to the Hon. the Minister for Labour, who has had full inquiries made by the Inspectors of Factories, and also by officers of the Public Health Department, as to the conditions ruling in the two factories in New Zealand, and it is found that, owing probably to the fact that the conditions of employment in New Zealand are better than in Great Britain, there does not appear to be any necessity for taking action as suggested, at all events, for the present. The Inspectors have, however, been directed to pay special attention to the work being carried on in these match-factories, so that should any necessity arise in the future for taking action the matter can then be gone into." T have, &c, PLUNKET, Governor. To the Earl of Crewe, Secretary of State for the Colonies.