THE POSTAL CONFERENCE.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1197, 8 February 1895, Page 28

THE POSTAL CONFERENCE.

London, February 5. The reply of Sir John Pender to the resolution passed by the Postal Conference, offering amended proposals regarding the cable guarantees, is that he does not see why the Eastern Extension Company should accept the conditions offered on the basis of one year’s agreement. He suggests that the term should be longer. Hobart, February 6. At to-day’s sitting of the Postal Conference, it was resolved on the motion of Sir J. Forrest (Western Australia) that the new mail contracts should be undertaken for two yeaxs, and that henceforth Fremantle should be the first port of call. The Conference then went into committee to consider Sir J. Pender’s reply to the Hen Mr Ward’s motion concerning the cable guarantees. Eventually the question was ad journed until to-morrow. In connection with the mail contracts,

the Conference affirmed the employment of white instead of coloured labour. The motion proposed by Mr Ward at tho Postal Conference regarding the cable guarantees is as follows: colonies agree to guarantee an international revenue to the Eastern Extension to .£227,000 per annum, making up any deficiency or loss below that amount, provided it doe 3 not exceed £IO,OOO, and guarantee tho revenue of the New Zealand cable to £20,000, making up the loss if it does not exceed £9OOO, provided that the rates are not higher than at present, such to continue for a year, but terminable by two months’ notice.” This was agreed to by the Conference.