A.—l

19

No. 45. New Zealand, No. 99. My Lord,— Government House, Wellington, 19th November, 1909. I have the honour to acknowledge your Lordship's despatch, No. 177, of the 17th September, on the subject of the exemption under certain conditions of German and Norwegian ships from the British regulations concerning lifesaving appliances under the provisions of section 4 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1906. „ 2. In reply I have received the following minute from my Ministers :— " Provision is made in the Shipping and Seamen Act Amendment Bill, which is now before Parliament, to enable the Governor in Council to exempt the ships of foreign countries from the New Zealand Life-saving Appliances Rules under the same conditions as similar provisions in the Imperial Merchant Shipping Act, 1906. When the Bill becomes law the question of taking similar action to that which has been taken by the Board of Trade in regard to German and Norwegian ships will receive consideration." I have, &c, PLUNKET, Governor. To the Earl of Crewe, Secretary of State for the Colonies.

A.—2, 1910, No. 69.

No. 46. New Zealand, No. 101. , My Lord — Government House, Wellington, 23rd November, 1909. With reference to Lord Elgin's despatch, No. 12, of the 24th January, 1908 and my reply, No. 30, of the 24th April, 1908, I have the honour to transmit to your Lordship three copies of the Shipping and Seamen Act Amendment Bill, which has been introduced into Parliament. 2. I also enclose a copy of a memorandum, prepared by the Minister oi Marine, relating to this matter. I have, &c, PLUNKET, Governor. To the Earl of Crewe, Secretary of State for the Colonies.

Enclosure. Prime Minister's Office, Wellington, 16th November, 1909. Memorandum for His Excellency the Governor. The Prime Minister presents his compliments, and in accordance with despatch No. 12 of the 24th January, 1908, transmits herewith a memorandum from the Hon. Minister of Marine covering the Shipping and Seamen Amendment Bill for the information of the Secretary of State for the Colonies. } Q Ward> Prime Minister.

Minister's Office, Marine Department, Wellington, 4th November, 1909. Memorandum for the Right Hon. the Prime Minister. In despatch No. 12, of the 24th January, 1908, the Secretary of State for the Colonies asked that he might be supplied with a copy of any Bill to amend the New Zealand Shipping and Seamen Act prepared for introduction into Parliament, so that the Government of New Zealand might be able to consider any suggestions which His Majesty's Government might desire to offer on the Bill ° His Excellency the Governor was advised to inform the Secretary of State that as a matter of courtesy a copy of the Bill to meet the Navigation Conference resolutions would be sent to him and that the Government would be pleased to consider any suggestions the Imperial Government might desire to make should they be received before the Bill is dealt with by Parliament, but that the Bill could not be held over for the purpose.