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No. 37. New Zealand, Dominions No. 552. Sir, — Downing Street, 19th November, 1928. I have the honour to state, for the information of His Majesty's Government in New Zealand, that the Registrar-General has had under consideration the following resolutions passed at the First Conference of Government Officers engaged in dealing with Statistics in the British Empire, held in 1920 (see page 25 of Cmd. 648 of 1920, copies of which were enclosed in Lord Milner's despatch, Dominions No. 173, of the 26th April, 1920) : — 61. " That the adoption of uniform systems of classification and listing of industries and of occupations for census and other statistical purposes within the Empire is of the utmost importance." 66. iv. " That, upon any agreement by the United Kingdom authorities with regard to the details of an occupational classification being arrived at, the results should be forwarded without delay to the various census authorities of the British Empire for their adoption if found suitable." 2. In conformity with these resolutions, the dictionaries of occupations and industries for use at the United Kingdom census in 1931 are being prepared in advance of the usual date for the information of the statistical officers in other parts of the Empire. Every effort is being made to secure that copies should be available for distribution by the middle of next year. I should be glad to learn how many copies would be required for distribution in New Zealand. I have, &c., L. S. AMERY. Governor-General His Excellency General Sir C. Fergusson, Bart., LL.D., G.C.M.G., K.C.8., D.5.0., M.V.0., &c.

No. 38. New Zealand, Dominions No. 561. Sir, — Downing Street, 26th November, 1928. I have the honour to transmit a copy of a despatch from the Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Australia regarding the question of exempting from payment of estate duties in the United Kingdom objects of national, scientific, historic, and artistic interest which are sold to public institutions in other parts of His Majesty's dominions. His Majesty's Government in Great Britain have had this matter under consideration, and they are prepared to agree in principle to the suggested exemption. In order, however, to give effect thereto, legislation will be required to extend the provision of section 44 of the Finance Act, 1921 (11 & 12 Geo. Y, c. 32) to cover sales to institutions in parts of His Majesty's dominions outside the United Kingdom, and it will be appreciated that the introduction of such legislation cannot be undertaken until a convenient opportunity arises. I have, &c., L. S. AMERY. Governor-General His Excellency General Sir C. Fergusson, Bart., LL.D., G.C.M.G., K.C.8., D.5.0., M.V.0., &c.

Enclosure. A.C. 230/28/164.—N0. 36. Sib, — Commonwealth of Australia, Canberra, F.C.T., 2nd Marcli, 1928. I have the honour to inform you that attention has been drawn by the Art Adviser in London of the Trustees of the Public Library, Museums, and National Gallery of Victoria to the importance of the Dominion and colonial galleries and museums obtaining the same exemptions from payment of estate duties on purchases made in England as are enjoyed by similar institutions in England.

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