THE POSTAL CONFERENCE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2482, 28 March 1893, Page 4

THE POSTAL CONFERENCE.

Brisbane, March 25. At the Postal Conference yesterday the motion of the Hon. G. Ward, of New Zealand, with reference to a second cable route in tne Pacific, was carried. To-day a resolution proposed by Mr Ward " That £it is desirable tojenter into negotiations for a Canadian-Pacific postal service" was agreed to unanimously ; also one regretting the non-participation by the United States in the subsidy to the San Francisco mail, and asking for more favorable terms in connection with transit rates for mails between San Francisco and New York; and further directing that a communication be accordingly sent to Washington on the matter. Mr Ward strongly opposed a proposal to charge cypher messages from New Zealand double rates, in conformity with the system in operation in Australia, and the proposal was rejeoted. A resolution moved by Mr Ward, that the next conference be held in New Zealand in 1894, was carried.

Mr Todd, head of the South Australian Telegraph Department, moved that the zone hour system be adopted in a modified form throughout Australia namely, 9 hours east of Greenwich. The motion was agreed to. The report from the heads of the Department recommends that the rates on newspapers sent to the United Kingdom from Ist July should be Id for 4ozs.; that negotiations be opened urging the establishment of a parcels post with that country ; that all messages despatched on Sunday should 5e charged double ordinary rates, except cable Press messages. it waa mentioned that New Zealand had absented except with regard to Press messages. The report stated regard to tJ?e adoption of the reduced postage from th. 3 Uuitcd Kingdom that it was not desirable to make any recommendation, beyond pointing out that such a step would involve a considerable loss to the revenue. The report was adopted. The general opinion of the representatives at the Conference is that Imperial penny postage is impossible at present.

The Conference has closed. Mr Ward has left for Sydney.