A.—l.

No. 43. New Zealand, No. 2. Sir, — Government House, Wellington, Ist January, 1914. With reference to your despatch, Miscellaneous, of the 19th September last, I have the honour to inform you that I am desired by my Prime Minister to ask you to be good enough to convey to His Majesty the King the respectful thanks of the Government of New Zealand for the State portraits of himself and of Her Majesty the Queen which His Majesty has been graciously pleased to present to this Dominion. 2. I may add that the portraits have been duly received, and are hung in the ball-room at Government House. I have, &c, LIVERPOOL, The Right Hon. Lewis V. Harcourt, P.C., &c, Governor. Secretary of State for the Colonies.

No. 44. New Zealand, No. 3. Sir, — Government House, Wellington, Ist January, 1914. I have the honour to transmit to you the accompanying copy of a memorandum which I have received from my Prime Minister relative to the Copyright Act, 1913, of the Parliament of New Zealand. 2. It will be observed from the memorandum that my Ministers suggest that, if convenient, an answer to the points raised may be conveyed to me by telegraph. 3. A copy of the proposed Order in Council referred to by the Prime Minister is enclosed, and copies of the Act are being sent to you under separate cover by this mail. I have, &c, LIVERPOOL, The Right Hon. Lewis V. Harcourt, P.C., &c, Governor. Secretary of State for the Colonies.

Enclosures. Prime Minister's Office, Wellington, 23rd December, 1913. Memorandum for His Excellency the Governor. The Prime Minister has the honour to transmit, for the information of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, copies of an Act recently passed in the Dominion amending the law on the subject of copyright. The Prime Minister would be glad if it could be pointed out that in framing the measure the second of the two courses referred to in the Hon. Mr. Askwith's letter of the 22nd December last has been adopted, and while the Imperial Act has not been actually applied, that measure has been so closely followed as to bring the law of New Zealand on the subject into practical uniformity with that of the United Kingdom. He has the honour to request that the Secretary of State for the Colonies may be informed that an Order in Council will be made extending the Act to works first published in any part of the British dominions to which the Order relates in like manner as if such works were first published in New Zealand; and in respect of residence in any part of the British dominions to which the Order relates, in like manner as if such residence were residence in New Zealand, and that he may be advised that it is the desire of my Government that the provisions of the Imperial Act may be similarly extended to residents in the Dominion and to works first published here. He begs to transmit herewith a form in which it is proposed to issue the Order. As the Act commences on the Ist April next the Prime Minister begs to suggest that it would be advisable if a reply could be cabled. He also begs to request that the provisions of section 33 may be brought under- the notice of the foreign countries with which the United Kingdom has copyright relations, with a view to the promotion of reciprocity in the matter between those countries and New Zealand. A. L. Herdman, For Prime Minister.

Whereas it is provided by section 28 of the Copyright Act, 1913, that the Governor may, by Order in Council, direct that such Act shall, subject to such provisions as may be prescribed extend the works first published in any part of the British dominions in like manner as if such works were first published in New Zealand, and in respect of residence in any part of the British dominions in like manner as if such residence were residence in New Zealand.

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