A.—2

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M. 12320. Sir,— 2 Fenchurch Avenue, London, E.C., 28th May, 1909. With reference to your letter of the 2oth instant, enclosing correspondence on the subject of conveying persons suffering from consumption to New Zealand from U.K. ports and asking for our comments : All third-class passengers by our vessels are examined by a doctor appointed by the Board of Trade before leaving, and a doctor appointed by the New Zealand Government also attends on board our steamers to watch the embarkation, and, we understand, pass the emigrants on behalf of the New Zealand Government. Ihe saloon passengers, as you are aware, are not examined by the Government doctors; and those arriving in New Zealand by Federal steamers mentioned in your list as suffering from consumption were steerage passengers. We can only suggest there should be a more stringent examination on embarkation by the medical men appointed for the purpose, and we will co-operate with the authorities and do everything in our power to make effective any regulations made to diminish the risk of carrying passengers suffering from consumption to the colony. Yours, &c, Federal Steam Navigation Company (Limited). G. W. Law, Secretary. The Assistant Secretary, Marine Department, Board of Trade, 7 Whitehall Gardens, S.W. M. 12278. Orient Line, 5 Fenchurch Avenue, London, E.G., 27th May, 1909. Sir, Passenger Department . We have to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 25th instant, referring to the carriage of persons suffering from consumption from this country to New Zealand. We may say that we discourage the booking of this class of passenger as much as possible; but the bulk of our bookings are effected through correspondence, and it is not until the passenger arrives on board ship that we are aware of his condition. Under these circumstances we cannot claim that the precautions taken by us are sufficient to explain the small number of consumptive passengers arriving in New Zealand via the medium of our steamers. We may, however, call your attention to the fact that in the return you send us only one consumptive passenger appears to have been conveyed to New Zealand by the Orient Royal Mail Line since the year 1904. We would suggest that if the surgeon appointed by the Board of Trade to medically examine passengers on embarkation were empowered to reject those suffering from consumption, the objects desired by the New Zealand Government would in a large measure be attained, but there would, no doubt, be many cases of incipient disease which would escape the notice of the medical officer at the time of embarkation. We are, &c, Anderson, Anderson, and Co. W. J. Howell, Esq., Marine Department, 7 Whitehall Gardens, S.W. M 121 1 Slß ,_' ' ' Liverpool, 26th May, 1909. We have to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 26th instant (M. 10292), enclosing copy of a correspondence which has passed'between the Board of Trade and the New Zealand Government on the subject of the carriage of persons suffering from consumption. With regard to the general question, and your request for our observations on the points raised by the New Zealand Government, we cannot, we think, do better than refer you to our communication of the Bth April, 1908, copy of which we attach. Your Board may rest assured that every possible precaution is taken by us to avoid oarrying any passengers by our steamers who are suffering from consumption, but they will, we think, readily recognise the difficulty of detecting incipient cases at the medical inspection at time ot embarkation. , This company has no steamers taking passengers from Liverpool direct to New Zealand, anrt, with regard to the particular cases referred to in the list which you have sent us as being carried on board the company's steamers sailing from London in conjunction with the service of Messrs. Shaw Savill, and Albion Company (Limited), we have to state that we are communicating with Messrs. Shaw, Savill, and Albion Company (Limited)., and requesting them to write you; but doubtless you are already in correspondence with them on the subject. We are, arc, Ismay, Imrie, and Co., Managers. The Assistant Secretary, Marine Department. Board of Trade, 7 Whitehall Gardens, London, S.W.

No. 45. New Zealand.—Miscellaneous. My Lord, Downing Street, 30th June, 1909. f have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers copy of the regulations which have heen approved for the award of medals for long service for men in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve.