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No. 19. New Zealand, No. 100. Sir, — Government House, Wellington, 4th July, 1912. With reference to your despatch, No. 89, of the 23rd March, covering copy of a letter from the Board of Agriculture on the subject of the provision of a quarantine and testing station, at which animals intended for exportation from Great Britain might be tested before shipment for tuberculosis and other diseases by the veterinary officers of the Board, I have the honour to transmit to you the accompanying copy of a memorandum which I have received from my Prime Minister giving the views of my Government on the subject. I have, &c, ISLINGTON, The Right Hon. Lewis V. Harcourt, P.C., &c, Governor. Secretary of State for the Colonies.

A.-2, 1913, No. 16.

Enclosure. Prime Minister's Office, Wellington, 2nd July, 1912. Memorandum for His Excellency the Governor. The Prime Minister presents his compliments to His Excellency the Governor, and begs to inform him, in regard to the attached Government House record No. 318/12, that the proposal of the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries, London, to establish a quarantine-station at which live-stock intended for export to this Dominion might be confined and treated has been carefully looked into. It is felt that the Government could accede to the suggestion that cattle which have been subjected at the quarantine-station to the tuberculin test should not require to be further tested on arrival in New Zealand, as it is recognized that the test would be carefully carried out at such a station under favourable conditions. A similar concession could be made in regard to horses subjected at, the station to the mallein test. It is presumed that the animals would be removed from the quarantine-station direct to the ship, and not allowed to be taken to any stables. In regard to the remission of quarantine in New Zealand, it is felt that at present compliance cannot safely be promised with the suggestion that animals which have passed through the proposed quarantine-station should be admitted here without further quarantine restrictions. The quarantine period in New Zealand gives an opportunity for close examination by Government veterinary officers, which would not be available if the animals were removed to their owners' properties. Our experience has proved in several cases that this detention has been of the greatest value in the interests of the Dominion. Thos. Mackenzie, Prime Minister.

No. 20. New Zealand, No. 102. Sir,— Government House, Wellington, sth July, 1912. With reference to your despatch, No. 106, of the 11th April, covering copies of the report of a departmental committee appointed in 1908 to inquire into the dangers attendant on the use of lead in the manufacture of earthenware and china, and in the processes incidental thereto, I have the honour to inform you, by request of my Prime Minister, that inquiries will be made by the Department of Labour into the matter, and if it is found that injury to the health of employees in New Zealand is caused by the use of lead in any manufacturing processes the Government will consider the question with a view to legislating on the subject. 2. Some similar restriction on the manufacture of matches, white-lead, &c, is already contained in the Factories Act, section 27. I have, &c, ISLINGTON, The Right Hon. Lewis V. Harcourt, P.C., &c, Governor. Secretary of State for the Colonies.

A.-2, 1913, No. 26.

No. 21. New Zealand, No. 103. Sir, — Government House, Wellington, 11th July, 1912. I have the honour to transmit to you the accompanying copy of a resolution, forwarded to me by my Prime Minister, passed by the Christchurch Branch of the New Zealand Anti-Opium Association relative to the Indo-Chinese opium traffic. I have, &c, ISLINGTON, The Right Hon. Lewis V. Harcourt, P. 0., &c, Governor. Secretary of State for the Colonies.