13

A.—l

No. 22. New Zealand, No. 160. My Lord, — Government House, Wellington, 28th August, 1919. I have the honour to confirm my telegram to Your Lordship of the 11th August, replying to your despatch, Dominions No. 401, of the 21st May, on the subject of education of ex-soldiers. The telegram read as follows :—• " Your despatch of 21st May, No. 401 : Government of New Zealand has authorized expenditure of £50,000 on educational and vocational training of members of New Zealand Expeditionary Force in addition to fifty scholarships of from £175 to £250. Post-graduate courses for medical, dental, and other students have been approved, and also instruction in agriculture, mechanics, and other courses beneficial on repatriation. The above scholarships have all been allotted, but other applications for higher educational and vocational training under the New Zealand Expeditionary Force Education Department are dealt with in England by an advisory Board." I have, &c, LIVERPOOL. Governor-General. The Right Hon. Viscount Milner, P.C., G.C.8., &o v Secretary of State for the Colonies.

No. 23. New Zealand, No. 161. My Lord, — Government House, Wellington, 29th August, 1919. With reference to your despatch, Dominions No. 355, of the Bth May, i regarding the higher education of ex-officers and men, I have the honour to inform Your Lordship that the New Zealand Government has adopted a scheme under which officers and men discharged from the New Zealand Forces may receive instruction in farming-methods at the State farms, and also with individual farmers. The instruction at these farms includes special lectures and demonstrations of an elementary scientific nature by trained officers of the Agricultural Department, and the object aimed at is to make good practical farmers, rather than to give education up to a university standard. Apart from this, however, provision is made under which discharged officers and men specially desirous of obtaining a university training in agriculture may, in specially selected cases, receive financial assistance from the Government in order to enable them to obtain the higher training. 2. Persons previously domiciled in New Zealand who have served in the Forces of the United Kingdom, or in any Force for which payment is made out of moneys provided by the Parliament of the United Kingdom, or in the Forces of one of the other self-governing Dominions, would be given facilities for availing themselves of the practical instruction in agriculture at the State farms, provided the whole of the available room for men at these farms is not required for New Zealand soldiers; but special circumstances would have to exist to warrant the granting to them of facilities for obtaining university education, this being due to the fact that the facilities existing in New Zealand for university training in agriculture are very limited. 3. As regards persons previously domiciled elswhere than in New Zealand who have served in the New Zealand Forces, the conditions set out in paragraph 2 would apply, and they would also apply in respect to other ex-service men of British nationality, provided the available educational facilities are not all required for New Zealand soldiers. I have, &c, LIVERPOOL, Governor-General. The Right Hon. Viscount Milner, P.C., G.C.8., &c, Secretary of State for the Colonies.

A.-2.1 No. 2(