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insurance were initiated just prior to my leaving the Dominion. The further statistics covered by the resolutions should be taken in hand as soon as possible, and will have attention on my ret urn. While the Conference was sitting ihe overseas representatives were ihe guests of His Majesty's Government at the Carlton Hotel, Pall Mall S.W. 1. and wrvy courtesy and attention was afforded by those officers of the Home Departments with which we came in contact. Eaoilities were afforded representatives for inspecting calculating, tabulating, and adding machines of all kinds at work in the offices of Departments employing such. The Conference discussed the use of such machines for Statistical work, and the matter is referred to in (he rcpori in the following terms: "The Conference recognized that advancing requirements for statistical information render ihe use of mechanical calculating appliances and of sorting and tabulating machinery not only advantageous but essential in dealing with many classes of returns." A Committee is at present silling in London, composed of representatives of the Treasury, the Stationery Office, and other Departments, ill order lo see how far the use of mechanical tabulation may be largely increased. The question of introducing mechanical tabulation in the Statistical Office of II.M. Customs, as has been done in ihe corresponding office of the U.S.A. Customs, is also separately under consideration. The Conference visited the installations in the following offices: Board of Trade Industrial Inquiry Brunch ; Ministry of Labour Unemployment Insurance Branch ; Prudential Assurance Company (Limited) (mainly for Powers tabulating-machines); RegistrarGeneral's Office, War Pensions Department; London Gasligh.l and Coke Company (Limited) (Hollerith tabulating-machines); Office of Director of Statistics, Medical Research Committee (Millionaire. Madas, Burroughs, and various other calculating-machines). After (he Conference I revisited these offices by myself in order lo get a thorough grip of the working of the machines, and make a comparative study of the respective qualities of the Powers and Hollerith tabulatingmachines with a view to deciding which would be most suitable for New Zealand. In addition I also visited, in some cases more than once, ihe offices of the British Tabulaf ing-inachiiu Company, ihe Powers Accounting and Tabulating Machine Company, the agents for the Burroughs addingmachines, the Millionaire and Madas computing-machines. I also slicnt the besi part, of a day in each of the following offices, studying ihe general office methods and systems of work in use,' particularly in regard to recording and statistics: Board of Trade (registry and statistics of manufactures); Ministry of Labour (prices, wages, and index numbers); Ministry of Food, Home Office (alien registration and law and crime statistics); Scottish Office (registry); Board of Agriculture (agriculture and fisheries); Registrar-General of England (registration, vital statistics, and census); War Pensions (system of registration for conscription); .Inland Revenue (income-tax collection): Customs (trade statistics); Registrar-General of Scotland, Edinburgh (registration, vital statistics, and census); General Statistical Office in Paris. In regard to the latter I found a tabulating and printing machine in use not seen elsewhere: it is the invention of the Director of the French Statistical Office, ami I was much impressed with its work. lam obtaining full particulars as to cost, ivc, for consideration as to whether it could be employed economically in New Zealand. This practically concludes my work to date. I had not intended reporting at this si age. us time scarcely permits my dealing with ihe various points raised as fully as l would like, but in view of the fact that the Conference considered the preliminary slops for creating the British Empire Statistical Bureau were urgent and should not be delayed until after my return in August, I decided to forward this report by mail. I shall feel obliged, therefore, if you will submit the portion dealing with the creation of a British Empire Statistical Bureau to the Hon. the Minister with my recommendation for New Zealand's participation, in which I trust you will concur. II the recommendation is adopted by the Government the New Zealand representatives m London on Ihe proposed Council (of which, of course, our High Coimnisisoner would be one) should be imme dial el\ appointed and the Board of Trade advised by cable. All other matters arising out of the work of the Conference and of my visit should await my return in order that each point requiring any alteration or action in connection with our present statistical work could be submitted for approval by a separate memorandum in which Ihe poml involved would be more fully explained. , . In conclusion I wish to record mv very great appreciation of the courlesy and kindness received from all officers of ihe High Commissioner's staff with whom I came in contact. All were most obliging and helpful, and any assistance required was most readily given. Malcolm Fkasbk, i Government Statistician. The Under-Secretary, Department of Internal Affairs, Wellington. L3th August, 1920. Continuing mv report posted from London and dated the 26th April. I have lo say that I visited Edinburgh and saw Dr. Dunlop, Registrar-General for Scotland, and discussed census work with him. One suggestion made by him I think worthy of adoption tor New Zeahind namely thai a question should be inserted Oil the census schedule to ascertain Ihe orphanhood ~, the country in regard to all children under fifteen or sixteen years of age. Beyond this think New Zealand is quite us advanced, if not more so. in regard to census and vital statistics as they are TaS looked through the Statistical Division of the Department of Agriculture in Scotland. which is organize I much the same lines as the English office. I am quite satisfied that the agriculture and live-slock statistics in New Zealand nnd Australia are superior and more advanced than elsewhere, and mv subseipieii, visits to the United States and Canada confirmed this opinion. \ branch of work in connection with agricultural and pastoral statistics m wind, all these countries were in : „u„„ce „l New Zealand is thai dealing with market-price reports movements ol stocks and supplies in sight, &c. A good deal of this work is made possible by the employment of fecial correspondents in Ihe various centres, So far this Office has not a led Ihe system ol