A.—3

19

PETITION OP FRUIT- GROWERS. To the Hon. Sir Henry Paekes, K.O.M.G-., Colonial Secretary, and the Hon. James Watson, Esq., Colonial Treasurer, the Representatives in the Intercolonial Conference for the Colony of New South Wales. The petition of the undersigned persons interested in the growing of and dealing in fruit — Showeth, — That your petitioners desire to bring under your notice the following facts connected with the intercolonial fruit trade, and respectfully request that you will place the same before the Conference. The trade in fruit between the Colonies of New South Wales and Victoria is a very large and increasing one, and, owing to the difference in the latitude of the two central markets, Sydney and Melbourne, there is but little actual competition between the local growers for the respective markets, the summer fruit being ready for use in the vicinity of Sydney quite a month earlier than it is in Melbourne. The fruit itself being very perishable, it is desirable that every facility should be given for its rapid delivery. The rapidly changing value of fruit from a very high price in the commencement to a very low one in the height, and back to a high price at the end of the season, together with the fluctuation of price dependent upon weather, render it particularly unsuitable as a commodity from which to obtain revenue. The duty charged upon fruit going to Victoria from Sydney is a very serious interference with the intercolonial trade, while the amount raised is really but small; being fixed at one shilling per case it frequently amounts to 25 per cent, or 30 per cent, upon the fruit consumed by the poorer classes, while at other times, when it is not so plentiful, and, owing to the price, it can only be used by the wealthier clauses, the duty is only 5 or 10 per cent. . Xour petitioners submit that fruit is an article the consumption of which should be encouraged as much as possible, and that its supply at the cheapest possible price should be assisted to the utmost extent, as it is not merely a luxury but possesses many health-giving properties ; and your petitioners therefore respectfully urge that, whatever may be the result of the deliberations of the Conference, efforts should be made to induce the representatives of the Colony of Victoria to recommend their Government to abolish the duties upon fruit, at all events in its natural state. And your petitioners will ever pray, &c. Chables Cabeoll, Grower, Hunter's Hill. J. Lyons, Shipper, Elizabeth Street. Ceawfoed abd Jessep, Shippers, 9, Market Street. Samuel Small, Grower, Ryde. [Here follow 168 other signatures.]

MEMORANDUM. The new arrangement entered into with the United Kingdom from the Ist March, 1880, for division of postage on correspondence transmitted via Brindisi was as follows: — Postage to be — Letters ... ... ... ... 6d. Newspapers ... ... ... ~. Id. Packets ... ... ... ... Id. per 1 oz. Upon outward correspondence United Kingdom to account to Victoria for 2-§-d. per letter, retaining 3jd.* per letter, as well as the whole of the packet and newspaper postage. Upon homeward correspondence Victoria to retain postage collected on letters, and account for half the postage on packets and newspapers. Continental transit of packets and newspapers as well as letters, loth ways, to be paid by United Kingdom. To remove objections raised by New South "Wales and New Zealand it was agreed that United Kingdom should continue to account to other colonies 4d. out of 6d. on each letter and half newspaper and packet postage, the difference (l^d. per letter and per newspaper) being debited against Victoria. This teas upon the understanding that the homeward as well as the outward letter postage would in all eases be reduced to Qd. However, New South "Wales, New Zealand, South Australia, and Tasmania still continue to charge Bd. on letters via Brindisi, and a large portion of the homeward correspondence previously sent via Southampton was now forwarded at the 6d. rate via Southampton or by Orient steamers, and was thus diverted from the Galle contract steamers. In July, 1880, the above colonies were addressed upon the subject,f and strongly urged to reduce homeward letter rates to a uniform charge of 6d. by all routes, in order that a due proportion of their mails may be sent via Brindisi, and a larger contribution paid by them to the Galle contract, for which Victoria is responsible to the extent of £85,000 per annum. They have, however, declined to make the change. It is a matter of great importance to Victoria that, as anticipated when the contract was entered into, the bulk of the mails from the neighbouring colonies should be forwarded via dalle and Brindisi, the most regular and expeditious postal route; but this can only be secured by a general reduction of the homeward postage to 6d. as proposed. The average loss to Victoria on previous contract was £13,500. The loss under the present contract is estimated to be about £24,000, the increase being due to the causes previously stated. F. W. Jackson, G. P. 0., 11/1/81.

* 2d. of this being to cover continental transit charges ioth ways, viz., Id. each way. t Copy of communication at Chief Secretary's Office.