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A.—2

tion of the consent of the other Administrations interested. I trust that your Ministers will not raise any objection to the extension of the tax as proposed. I have, &c, A. BONAR LAW. Governor His Excellency the Right Hon. the Earl of Liverpool, G.C.M.G, M.V.O, &c.

No. 41. New Zealand, No. 460. My Lord,— Downing Street, 23rd June, 1916. I have the honour to request Your Excellency to inform your Ministers that the Governor of Jamaica has submitted a proposal for the imposition of a war-tax of \ : d. on every letter and post-card and 3d. on every parcel-post packet addressed from Jamaica to the Lnited Kingdom and other parts of the limpire. 2. I have expressed my approval of this proposal so far as letters and parcels only are concerned, and am informing the Governor that in order to avoid delay it may be brought into force in anticipation of the consent of the other Administrations interested. I trust that your Ministers will not raise any objection to the imposition of such a tax in respect of letters sent from Jamaica to New Zealand, and will give instructions for surcharging insufficiently prepaid letters and parcels. Post-cards should not be surcharged. 3. This tax is designed to provide additional revenue called for owing to the expenses to be borne by the colony in connection with local defence services, and is intended to continue for the duration of the war. I have, &c, A. BONAR LAW Governor His Excellency the Right Hon. the Earl of Liverpool, G.C.M.G, M.V.O, &c.

A.-1, 1917, No. 42.

No. 42. New Zealand, No. 471. My Lord, — ■ Downing Street, 26th June, 1916. With reference to my despatch, No. 283, of the 19th April last, I have the honour to request that Your Excellency will inform your Ministers that the King's exequatur empowering Monsieur Arne Scheel to act as Norwegian Consul-General at Melbourne received His Majesty's signature on the 29th April. I have, &c, A. BONAR LAW. Governor His Excellency the Right Hon. the Earl of Liverpool, G.C.M.G, M.V.O, &c.

A.-1, 1917, No. 47.

No. 43. New Zealand, No. 484. My Lord, — Downing Street, 29th June, 1916. With reference to my despatch, No. 72, of the 18th February, 1915, I have the honour to transmit to Your Excellency, for the information of your Ministers, a copy of the Proclamation by the President, of the United States of America extending to British subjects the provisions of section 1 (c) of the American Copyright Act of 1909. It will be observed that this Proclamation does not apply" in respect of the self-governing dominions. 2. I should be glad to learn whether the draft Order in Council which accompanied your despatch, No. 86, of the 14th May, 1915, has yet been issued. If so, I presume that your Ministers would wish that the United States Govern-