A.—2

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quadrennial Conference was desirable, and that the first of such Conferences should be convened by the Imperial Government. On this, the Board of Education announced that, in view of the united expression of opinion by educational representatives from so many parts of His Majesty's dominions, His Majesty's Government considered it desirable to arrange for an official Education Conference to be held in London in the year 1911. It was in accordance with the undertaking then made that the Imperial Education Conference of last year was convened by the Board of Education. 5. The Board of Education wish to point out that ever since the Conference of 1907, and even before that, they have been attempting, through their Office of Special Inquiries and Reports, to render certain services which would be of value to His Majesty's overseas dominions; and in this connection reference is invited to Appendices 3, 4, and 5 to the first part of the report of the Imperial Education Conference, 1911. The Board of Education are most desirous of meeting, to the best of their ability, the wishes of the recent Conference with reference to the development of these services, and in this matter, as also in questions concerned with the future meetings of the Imperial Education Conference, the Board would welcome the co-operation and advice of the committee the establishment of which has been suggested. 6. On the one hand, the Board of Education feel that it is important that the Office of Special Inquiries and Reports should be kept more regularly informed of the particular needs of the various overseas Governments which that office might meet; on the other hand, they feel that it is essential that the Governments of the self-governing dominions should have full opportunity of expressing their views on such matters as the future of the Imperial Education Conference or any such schemes as those for the interchange of educational information throughout the Empire which are, or may be, contemplated, after considering what participation in these projects involves on their side. The proposed committee should render closer co-operation possible, for its members being officials will be in close touch with their respective Governments, and at the same time serve to place any arrangements for future Conferences that it may be decided to summon upon an official basis representative of the Empire as a whole. 7. In the circumstances above set forth I am to suggest that, if Mr. Secretary Harcourt agrees, the Governments of the self-governing dominions may now be addressed with reference to the resolutions of the recent Imperial Education Conference, and asked whether they will nominate to serve on the committee their High Commissioner or Agent-General, or such other official as they deem suitable. 8. The Board of Education regret tliat owing to the pressure of work which fell last year on their Office of Special Inquiries and Reports, as also to the necessity for reorganizing and strengthening the staff of that office before any additional responsibility could be undertaken by it, they were not able to put this matter forward earlier. They would be glad if the Governments of the self-governing dominions could now be approached with as little further delay as possible, as they are anxious that the wishes of the Conference should now be taken in hand with all possible despatch. 9. The India and Irish Offices and the Scotch Education Department are being asked to nominate representatives to serve on the committee. I am, &c, L. A. Selby-Bigge, Secretary. The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office, Downing Street, S.W.

No. 35. New Zealand, No. 124. My Lord, — Downing Street, 19th April, 1912. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch, No. 35, of the Ist March, forwarding copies of your Speech at the opening on the 16th February of the Eighteenth Parliament of New Zealand, and of the Addresses in Reply from the Legislative Council and the House of Representatives. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c.

No. 36. New Zealand, No. 128. My Lord,— Downing Street, 26th April, 1912. I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, the paper noted below on the subject of the message of sympathy from your Government in connection with the disaster to the s.s. " Titanic." I have, &c. L. HARCOURT, The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand.