THE IMPERIAL CONFERENCE.

Auckland Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 93, 21 April 1887, Page 3

THE IMPERIAL CONFERENCE.

£ ffjlfi POSTAL PROPOSALS.L ."(rbuter's telegram.) ,1 ■-■■■■' London, April 19. Xf tii6 Imperial Conference to-day the subject under discussion was the postal communication between the; 'different ms of: tliij British Empire. Sir Henry Holland proposed '* That the subject ))0 divided into four parts: first, the -establishment of a penny postal rate llitoughdut the Empire in connection tfiili Mr Henniker Hcaton's gehenie; -second, the tertns on which tlie. Australian and South African colonte'tnny join the Postal Union; tliirdjtliS Australian mail contract; fiiiitth.ili'e. reduction in mail charges Mkcenthe Continent of Europe and tiie Australian colonies." Ml' Beaton's jenny postage propppals, ■with the Mihastcr-General's remarks on the 'same, were submitted to the Ccni«e, After some discussion, Mr | Beitph; was called, and stated his ! jfes. He declafed the colonies .were' prs7«g too much in the way of mail 'sflfcidies, tho i Imperial C4ove»nment M paying enough. Mr II eat on was Svited .by the delegates to submit a ilßioranduin with! practical proposals * the subject .This he agreed, to do. Sir A. Campbell explained the pro jO3ak of ty Canadian Government for the establishment of a Pacific mail loute to China and Australia. Mr feikeSj expresse3 himself in favour of adhering to the present route via Brindisi itfd Suez Canal. He stated the Austrah'au mail contract was not yet signed, as the matter required further •aonsiclersttion ■. At tO'in or row's meotfas of. the Conferetice the subject 6i fable'cbmtounication between difl'erent puts of the Empire will be discussed.

(PkEss- Association.)

■;! \ London, April 19. : The Gbv'ari'tnent of Soutli Australia •has agreed tdr^oid George Hamilton's dted pi^osal^ with the consent of tfe delegates, if'; Sir E' Holland* has invited Mr Hennjkef Heaton to 'or.epare a scheme embodying a cheaper fortnightly mail SWicfetO Australia via Canadian Pacific railway. Mr fleafbr? M? conWnled/and .iisked .for five.d^'s in which td draw out the Scheme.

it tk'Gohfefencg the delegates were , Mbi, ihaniihously of the" 6pirii6ti that tjifecqlpnies would not consent to fclie establishment of a penny -postage as they would he unwilling to sacriKce their revenue. Sir Graham wiry and Sir Saul' Samuel suggested tUt possibly tho letter rate via Brindisi to'ght be reduced to sixpence, and by direct steamers to threepence or f ourmi[ ■Hi ; Cecil Kaikes said that H\\ the fcoflventioh with France and lUly tvas Varied, all mailis iliiist ■f sdhfc via Brindisi at the Nnt rate. The delegates corisid*ffid that the question of Australia par■^ipatiflgin.the Postal Union \V-as not Mfc for discussion, and the nlatter •M bgttet be left to the Agefits-Geu-ftil'.to negotiate. They were of oP"nion that the colonies would be cer- ?* to insist on aggregate lepfesenta--1l °n upon tho Union. The delegates j%esfed surprise that the P. and O. V*l"^ Should insist upon the right ™ continue working the China afld ™tralian services together, tlioUgh at ¥*tih seasons of the year it- was if«Ms%'delay the delivery of mails.