F.—2

10

Hon. Mr Ward (New Zealand) I am prepared to renew the contract for this service. Three years was the last term we renewed it for, and I am disposed to renew it for a similar period. Hon. Mr Kidd (New South Wales) Before we renew the service we may have an opportunity of getting them to agree to the resolution which we have just passed. They might arrange their arrival and departure so as to make a fortnightly service. If you carry out your intention with regard to Vancouver with the Huddart-Parker Company, it would he a favourable opportunity for you to know that, so as to get them to fall in with an arrangement of that kind to give you a fortnightly service. Hon. Mr Waed (New Zealand) I will undertake to see that provision is made for the service being a fortnightly one, assuming the Vancouver service is established, and we shall thus have a fortnightly service. Then, the question being put, it was resolved in the affirmative. Besolved, That, in the opinion of this Conference, it is desirable that a four-weekly service via San Francisco be continued, and that strong representations be again made to the United States Government, pointing out the inadequate support given to the service by them, and urging for an increased payment in support of the line, and that further representations be made to obtain a reduction in the heavy overland charges. DELEGATE TO NEXT UNIVERSAL POSTAL UNION CONGRESS. The Hon. Mr Kidd (New South Wales) seconded by the Hon. Mr Wilson (Queensland), moved, and the question was proposed, That the question of the appointment of a delegate to attend the Postal Union Congress at its next meeting bo postponed. Hon. Mr Kidd (New South Wales) Sir, we went into this matter at the Brisbane Conference, expecting that this Conference would have been held in 1896. It has now been postponed until 1897, and I think we can well allow this matter to stand over until the next Intercolonial Conference. Hon. Dr Cockbuen (South Australia) I presume a Conference will be held. This is a question which can be considered apart from a Conference. It could be settled by communications between the different Governments. At the same time I hope the Intercolonial Conferences will be continued, as I recognise them to be of infinite benefit. And the question being put, it was resolved in the affirmative. REPRESENTATION OP FIJI. The Hon. Mr. Waed (New Zealand), seconded by the Hon. Mr Wilson (Queensland), moved, and the question was proposed, That no further action be taken with regard to the representation of Fiji at the Postal Union Congress and the Intercolonial Conferences until replies have been received from Fiji. Hon. Dr Cockbuen (South Australia) I think that as Fiji has already been communicated with on the question, and as there is a general feeling that as far as possible the colonies which have a communitive interest are working together in this respect, I presume community of interest is the ground upon which any colony would be represented. It seems to me that if Fiji feels that interest she will interest herself to secure representation. Fiji, perhaps, is not on all-fours with the other colonies, being a Crown colony, and therefore partly representing Imperial interests, but still I think it might be as well that Fiji should not be further pressed in the matter Hon. Mr Waed (New Zealand) Then, if the Conference is agreeable, I will simply put a note against this item in the proceedings, "No further action." That will enable me to understand the position. The question being put, it was resolved in the affirmative. FEDERAL MAIL-SERVICE VIA SUEZ. The Hon. Dr Cockbuen (South Australia) moved, and the question was proposed, That the heads of departments revise the conditions of proposed new contracts in connection with the Federal mail-service via Suez. Hon. Dr. Cockbubn (South Australia) I observed that in Brisbane the permanent heads of departments reported as to the new contracts under the Federal mail-service, and, as there are several matters referred to the permanent heads in connection with this question, I wish to understand whether the permanent heads are, in their report, considering any revision which may be necessary to bring their suggestions up to date. Hon. Mr. Waed (New Zealand) It is not so at present. There is a notice of motion by Mr Wynne for to-morrow, to the effect " That the conditions be now settled for which fresh tenders for Federal mail-service are to be called." Hon. Dr. Cockbuen (South Australia) There are one or two matters in connection with this, the details of which were settled at the last Conference at Brisbane, which might be revised on behalf of South Australia. There is one matter I should like to be looked into again, and that is with reference to the date of the departure of mails from Adelaide. It was originally proposed at the Conference to be Thursday, at 2 o'clock, but was afterwards altered to Saturday at 2 o'clock, and that is how it stands now As far as I can gather it is questionable whether the alteration is prudent. I may say at once that Saturday is regarded as a difficult day for the departure of a mail from Adelaide. I believe the mails should leave on Friday I mentioned the fact this morning, that we were endeavouring to carry our ramifications of trade and produce into the various provincial centres in England, and I think it is desirable that the Australian letters should arrive in England so as to be answered, not only in London, but also in the provincial centres by the out-coming mail. The mails now reach London on Sunday or Monday giving them plenty of time to get to the provinces and be replied to, but the mails leaving on Saturday would preclude that. A deputation waited on the