AUSTRALIAN.

Colonist, Volume XLVIII, Issue 11558, 20 February 1906, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN.

Sydney, February 19. The "Telegraph," commenting on Sir Joseph "Ward's advocacy of universal penny postage, says it fears at present Australia is not in a position to be able to afford the luxury. While Sir Joseph may descant on the blessings the penny postage has brought to New Zealand, his Australian colleagues at the Postal Conference may be found voting against the proposal. Melbourne, February 19> Sir Wm. Lyne, Federal Minister of Customs, in the course of an inter., view, said that he had noticed that New Zealand was talking of the necessity of preferential trade with the Commonwealth. He supposed that this was in consequence of the big slice which Tasmania had cut off New Zealand's commerce with Australia, Jand that it was evidently beginning to make New Zealand think. The matter had not yet come before the Cabinet, so he was unable to say whether Australia would be willing or not to enter into a preferentialtrade with New Zealand. Captain Collins, of the Federal Defence Department, has been appointed agent of the Federal Government in Australia. He deals principally with the inspection and shipment of warlike stores. The position comes under the control of the High Commissioner when such an official is appointed.