A.—2.

No. 6. New Zealand, No. 68. My Lord, — Downing Street, Ist April, 1910. I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, the papers noted below on the subject of the prohibition of the importation of bone flour into New Zealand from the United Kingdom. I have, &c, ORE WE. The Officer administering the Government of New Zealand.

Enclosures 8335/1910. Dear Sir,— 72 Great Clyde Street, Glasgow, 30th March. L9lO. We are in receipt of your esteemed favour of yesterday's date. Since our last letter to Lord Crewe we have received a further communication from our correspondents in New Zealand, giving us copies of later letters exchanged between them and the authorities in New Zealand. The letter from Mr. Pope, Secretary of the Agricultural Department in New Zealand, is. in a way-, much more satisfactory than the previous ones, giving, as it does, a reason why the importation of bone flour from India and Australia is permitted in New Zealand, while the product from Great Britain is excluded. We think it better that you should also be in possession of this correspondence, and we therefore beg to enclose copies of the letters referred to. Now that we know the reason, we shall endeavour to suggest to the authorities in New Zealand such means that will satisfy them, as to the character of the British product without the need of appointing an Inspector. We beg to thank Lord Crewe very kindly for what His Lordship has done and the interest he has taken in this matter. We are sure it will go to help us in our endeavour to get the business back for this country. We are, &c., John Poynter, Son, and Macdonalds. The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office, S.W. Copy op Letter from Secretary of Agricultural Department, Wellington, to Messrs. Todhunter Bros., dated 4th February, 1910. Sirs, — With reference to your letter of the 31st ultimo, in regard to the admission into New Zealand of bone flour from the United Kingdom, I have the honour to inform you that when the present regulations on the subject were framed it was desired to insure that all animal manure imported should be thoroughly sterilized, and it was thought, to obtain this end, it would be necessary to appoint an Inspector in the country of origin, who could personally inspect the sterilizing of the manures. As the bulk of the bones imported come from Australia and India, Inspectors were appointed at these places only. The expense in connection with the keeping of these Inspectors is considerable, and the amount of animal manure that would come forward from the United Kingdom would be too small to warrant an appointment in that place. If it, could be shown that there is a likelihood of much larger quantities coming from the United Kingdom, the matter might be considered. I have, &c, F. S. Pope, Secretary. ■ Copy of Letter from Messrs. Todhuntbe Bros, to the Secretary, Department of Agriculture, dated 7th February', 1910. Dear Sir, — We thank you for your letter of the 4th instant, explaining the reasons why manure is only allowed in at present from Australia and India. We are sending your letter to our principals in Glasgow, and we think it quite possible that you will hear from them, giving full details of the course of treatment their manures go through, and possibly after you have had these particulars you may be inclined to allow admission. Yours faithfully, Toijhunter Bros.

6

Date. Description. Oth March, 1910 From Messrs. John Poynter, Son, and Macdonalds.