POSTAL CONFERENCE

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLI, Issue XLI, 11 February 1921, Page 5

POSTAL CONFERENCE

NEW ZEALAND DELEGATE TO MADRID. ■■->. I ■;. . -... -,v (BY TELEGRAPH—PRESS ASSOCIATION.) WELLINGTON, Feb. 11. Mr. R. B. Morris, secretary1 of the Post Office, has returned from the Postal Conference at Madrid, the first held for 14 years. The one arranged for 1914 was cancelled by the war. One hundred and sixty-five delegates attended, including Austria-Hungary and Turkey. Mr. Morris was able, to induce the conference to adopt the frank, ing machine used in New Zealand. He took one with him, and the delegates were greatly pleased with its working. He also secured the adoption of a minimum postage impower by the country of origin. Some countries have been imposing a tax on foreign letters, but if they have the correct postage of the country whence they emanate no supertax will now be allowed. French was the official- language of the conference. This was altered to French and English. Mir. Morris says 75 per cent, of the delegates could speak English better than French. An attempt was made by the American delegates to restrict England and the Dominions to one vote, which would have given the little countries of Central and South America great superiority. It was lost by 42 votes to 21. The delegates were verj hospitably treated and taken to Granada, Cordova, Seville, and othetr show

places.