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agency of the Legation. Selections of Russian text-books and works of reference have been forwarded for distribution to the appropriate New Zealand Departments. A wide range of up-to-date information of both a general and specialized nature is provided in the translations of current articles from the Soviet press which are made by the Joint Press Reading Service in Moscow, and the Legation has continued to classify and forward these at weekly intervals. The general function of furnishing information on New Zealand and its people is an important part of the duties of the post, and the Legation has continued to handle a number of inquiries for such information. Articles on various aspects of New Zealand life have been supplied to the Russian-language newspaper British Ally, which is published by the British Embassy, Moscow. The Minister and Mrs Bos well returned to Moscow on 28 July, 1948, after a period of furlough in New Zealand. Mr D. P. Costello, First Secretary, was absent on official business in London and Paris in October and November, 1948. Mr D. W. Lake, Third Secretary, was relieved by Mr B. D. Zohrab in December, 1948, and returned to New Zealand. 7. Permanent Delegation of New Zealand to the United Nations, New York As is indicated elsewhere in this report, there was a marked increase in the activities of the United Nations during the year. This meant a corresponding increase in the duties of the Permanent Delegation, whose function it is not only to represent New Zealand at the Headquarters of the United Nations, but to provide representatives and secretarial services for the majority of United Nations conferences. So heavy was the schedule of meetings—some of them held in Europe—for which the office was required to provide staff, that members of the delegation were engaged almost continuously in duties of representation in addition to their normal office work. In March, 1949, the delegation consisted of a Secretary-General, a Second Secretary, a Third Secretary (one fewer than last year), and the necessary office staff. 8. Consulate-General of New Zealand, New York The Consulate-General in New York continued during this period to share its offices with, and to provide certain administrative services for, the Permanent Delegation to the United Nations, in addition to performing the usual consular functions.