7

F.—B

Question of allowing Senders of Books, &c, to write tlieir Names and Addresses on Same. We recommend that this be allowed, and submit in the draft convention a regulation providing for the same. Proposal for Steps lo be taken to' prevent the Repeated Delivery of English Mails in Sydney on Saturday Afternoons. We have given this question very attentive consideration. The delivery of the English mails in Sydney not later than Saturday morning, which appears to be what is desired, could only be effected by employing special trains from Melbourne, where they arrive at 8.55 a.m., to Sydney, at a cost of about £200. But we consider that the advantage of the few hours earlier delivery in Sydney would not warrant the large expenditure involved, although this is a matter which more particularly concerns the Sydney office, and we can suggest no other way by which the overland transit of these mails between Adelaide and Sydney could be expedited. The mails are not due in Sydney until Monday morning, but they do arrive in nine cases out of % ten before that day; sometimes as early as Tuesday ;iu other cases, on Wednesday; in others, on Thursday or Friday. It sometimes happens that they arrive in Sydney on Saturday by the express train, which is no doubt an inconvenience to the Sydney public, as in such cases the delivery can only be effected after the close of business-hours. But, as before stated, we are of opinion that this cannot be obviated in any other,way than by the employment of special trains, at the cost already mentioned, which, it is estimated, would be required about twelve times a year. Proposed Reduction of Bate of Commission on Intercolonial Money-orders. We consider that the system under which a fee of Is. is charged for intercolonial money-orders for any amount up to £5 is not only inequitable, but to some extent prohibitory in regard to the use of the money-order system, and we therefore recommend that the initial intercolonial rate be 6d., and that the following be the scale : For a money-order not exceeding £2, 6d.; not exceeding £5, Is. ; not exceeding £7, Is. 6d.; not exceeding £10, 25.; not exceeding £12, 2s. 6d.; not exceeding £15, 35.; not exceeding £17, 3s. 6d. ; not exceeding £20, 4s. Piovision has been made for this reduction in the revised draft convention. German Proposals. The German proposals considered at the Departmental Conferences held in Melbourne in January, 1889, and in Sydney in March, 1890, have, with some modifications made at the instance of Great Britain and Germany, been agreed to by the Postal Departments of all the Australasian Colonies except Fiji (which has not yet replied), and we therefore recommend their early adoption. International Postal Regulations, including Late-letter Fees, Newspaper Regulations and Postage, Parcels Post-weight of Packets. We submit as Appendix A the draft of the Australasian Postal Convention, recommended for adoption by the Adelaide Conference, which, as already stated, we have carefully and thoroughly revised, and which deals with the various matters referred to under this heading. Intercolonial Telegraph Regulations, including Money*order Telegrams and Reply-paid Messages. We submit as Appendix B a code of uniform telegraph regulations, being those drafted at the Adelaide Conference in May last, and now carefully revised and modified. As regards telegraphic money-orders, our experience is that the system is attended with very great risk, owing to the facilities it offers for fraud. In view, however, of the convenience afforded, we are unwilling to recommend its discontinuance, but strongly advise that it be made an instruction to paying officers in all cases to obtain the receipt of the payee on the telegram—of course, retaining the document—and, where possible, procure identification of the payee, as is done iv the case of bank drafts. Intercolonial Telegraph Rates. It is recommended — (1.) That, with the exception of Western Australia and New Zealand, the rates between any two contiguous colonies shall be Is. for fifteen words and l-|d. for each additional word, names and addresses to be paid for. Between any three colonies the minimum charge to be Is. 6d. for fifteen words and 2d. for each additional word. Similar rates to apply to telegrams to and from Tasmania, plus cable rates —Tasmania being treated as a colony contiguous to Victoria. Telegrams to and from Western Australia to be dealt with as follows : Between South Australia and Western Australia, Is. 6d. for the first fifteen words, including names and addresses, and 2d. for every additional word; between New South Wales, Victoria, and Western Australia, 2s. for the first fifteen words, including names and addresses, and 3d. for every additional word ; between Queensland and Western Australia, 2s. 6d. for the first fifteen words, including names and addresses, and 4d. for every additional word. (2.) That, with regard to local rates in each colony (with the exception of New Zealand), the system of including names and addresses in the charge should be adopted simultaneously with the adoption of the intercolonial rates as recommended. (3.) That the system of weekly payments for telegrams by the public is undesirable, and should be refused. .. Proposed Comparison of Amending Post Office Bills. On comparing the postal Acts of the several colonies, as far as the limited time at our disposal would permit, we find that the existing legislation of all the colonies would allow of the adoption of the Australasian Convention, except in regard to the following subjects : Parcel post; trans-