FEDERAL POSTAL CONFERENCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11539, 26 November 1900, Page 5

FEDERAL POSTAL CONFERENCE.

A conference of the beads of departments in the six Australian colonies was opened at the General Post Office, Sydney, on November 15, Mr. Crick, Postmaster-General, of New South Wales, presiding. The Chairman said the conference had been called with a view to paving the way for handing oyer the various post offices of the six colonies to the Federal Government in a manner that would) reflect credit upon all the permanent heads of the various post office departments. Regarding the matters to be considered, one of the most important was the Post Office Savings Banks. It was not intended that the Government Savings Bank should be handed over to the Federal Government, but it wouldl be carried on by the post office as usual, and arrangements made for the post office staff to work it. The conference would have to consider the provision of a special mail train to meet the English boats at the various important ports. His idea was that they might have a sort of travelling post office. Another point to be dealt with by the Postmaster-General was a system of penny postage throughout the Federation. If that were decided upon, then why not have it to England also? It seemed an anomaly that a letter could even now be sent from England to any of the Australian colonies for Id if the respective Governments would only let it in. They should have penny postage right through the British dominions. There might be an immediate loss, but that would soon disappear. The delegates should consider a reduction in the price of . telegrams. ' The sittings of the conference are being conducted with closed! doors.