THE POSTAL CONFERENCE.

Evening Star, Issue 8775, 16 March 1892, Page 4

THE POSTAL CONFERENCE.

For the consideration of tbe Intercolonial Postal Conference, to be opened in Hobart to day, tbe following programme of subjects has been prepared by the Tasmanian postal authorities

Free postage ol newspapers from New South Wales to tho other Australian colonies, limitation of weight of samples and patterns—inprease from 2fjo to 350 grammes, transmission through the post of articles liable to Customs duty, withdrawal or redirection by the sender of correspondence once posted, proposal of Great Britain to assimilate Australian postal rates (foreign) to those adopted for the United Kingdom from 1 | 1 | 92, uniform classification of correspondence inland as well as foreign on lines of Postal Union, uniformity of practice as regards responsibility on account of registered articles, minimum charge for parcels—adoption generally of the single lb rate in lieu of the 21b rats as the first charge, reduction of intercolonial rate on “printed papers” to Id per 4oz (or to |d per 2oz), uniformity of practice in dealing with surtaxed letters-^-to adopt Postal Union practice, consideration of article 7 (new) of Vienna Convention relative to registered correspondence despatched “ grevee de remboursement ” ; Intercolonial Postal Convention still in abeyance to be revised, with a view to conformity where advisable with the Universal Postal Union, which the colonies have since entered; Australian territorial transit rates for conveyance of mails and mode of settlement with foreign countries under Postal Union r6gime, application of such rates to intercolonial mails, consolidation of Postal and Telegraphic Acts with view to uniformity, express service, statistics, redirection charge, also charge for return of dead letters; late fees, postal notes, currency, etc., unclaimed letters, dead - letter list. Newspapers: Sending unpaid, intercolonial, arrangements with railway authorities, postage in Tasmania, registration, eto, Parcels Post; Insurance, compensation, transit rates by rail and sea, acknowledgment of receipt of registered letters, post cards—reply, eto.; special trains, France and Italy; money orders—allowance in account; return of special request letters, taxing and collection of postage for re-direotion, uniform telegraph code, telegraph money orders, multiple messages in connection with Press associations, zone hour system, communications with Berne Bureau to be carried on by one colony, settlement of account by Berne, cable subsidy for reduced rates (Queensland and New Zealand); electric light and power laws and regulations, especially in relation to telegraph and telephone wires, and to secure immunity from acpident; intercolonial telegraph rates 5 telephone system, including rates, regulations, collection of rentals, eto.; underground wires, what telegraph lines should be regarded as international, and the Paoifio cable.