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No. 13. New Zealand, No. 105. Sir, — Government House, Wellington, 13th May, 1927. With reference to your despatch, No. 54, of the 9th March, relating to the proposal from the Netherlands Government for an agreement for reciprocal exemption from income-tax of profits accruing from the business of shipping, I have the honour to inform you that the New Zealand Government feel unable to acede to the proposal, on the ground that the exemption of profits arising from shipping business carried on in the Dominion by non-residents would create difficulties in the assessment and collection of income-tax from non-residents deriving income from other classes of business. I have, &c., CHARLES FERGUSSON, Governor-General. The Right Hon. L. C. M. S. Amery, M.P., Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs.

No. 14. New Zealand, No. 117. Sir, — Government House, Wellington, 23rd May, 1927. With reference to your despatch, Dominions No. 183, of the 22nd March, relative to the French marriage law, I have the honour to inform you that in the opinion of my Ministers the form of certificate suggested would accurately represent the position so far as concerns New Zealand. I have, &c., CHARLES FERGUSSON, Governor-General. The Right Hon. L. C. M. S. Amery, M.P., Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs.

No. 15. New Zealand, No. 136. Sir, — Government House, Wellington, 18th June, 1927. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch, Dominions No. 235, of the 19th April, enclosing copies of the report of a committee appointed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies on Agricultural research and administration in the non-self-governing dependencies. 2. In expressing thanks for the publication, my Ministers state that it will prove of considerable value to the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research. I have, &c., CHARLES FERGUSSON, Governor-General. The Right Hon. L. C. M. S. Amery, M.P., Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs.

No. 16. New Zealand, No. 140. Sir, — Government House, Wellington, 18th June, 1927. With reference to your despatch, Dominions No. 242, of the 21st April, relative to the proposed convention concerning oil-pollution of navigable waters, I have the honour to inform you that His Majesty's Government has already agreed to the principles of the proposal, and that the necessary action will be taken when His Majesty's Government in Great Britain finally agrees to the resolutions of the Washington Convention. I have, &c., CHARLES FERGUSSON, Governor-General. The Right Hon. L. C. M. S. Amery, M.P., Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs.'

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