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the more the possibility of deferring this reform until the next meeting of the Congress, as an adverse resolution here would involve a delay of at least five years before it could again come up for consideration. The trend, therefore, towards the consummation of universal penny postage throughout the world is distinctly marked. I should not be surprised to find before the next Congress meets that every civilised country will at least have established inland penny postage. I repeat, what a splendid thing it would be if in postal matters we could shut our eyes to the fact that there is any limitation of boundaries, or that there are wide seas between some of our countries, and anticipate what public opinion will eventually force us to do! I would here remark that since the Postal Union in 1874 fixed the rate of postage for foreign letters at 2£d. practically nothing has been done in the way of a reduction. The cost of transit then, both by land and sea, as well as the cost of postal administration, was enormously greater than at the present day. Railway travelling was, to say the least of it, disjointed, and much more expensive than at the "present day. Steamer communication was at comparatively long intervals. Take Australia as an example: The mail-steamer communication was then about twice a month, whereas it is now at least eight times. While many important improvements have taken place in the methods of rail and steamer communication throughout the world, and in transit generally, there has been no alteration in the Postal Union rates for foreign letters for thirty-two years. The rate still remains 2£d. as originally fixed. At the same degree of progress how long will it take to bring about a reduction to 10 centimes? At an equal rate of progress 1 fear the present population of the world will have all passed away before it becomes an accomplished fact. Nothing really worth having can be" obtained without lighting for it, and even the splendid reform of British Imperial penny postage had to be strenuously battled for. If 1 should find myself in small company at this Congress that "will not depress me. I shall feel that I have done my duty, and rely with confidence upon this inestimable boon being conferred upon the people of the world at an early period in response to the irresistible growth of public opinion. I trust I have not trespassed too long on the time of my fellow-delegates, yet the subject is one to which 1 could scarcely do justice unless I were to speak at much greater length. The time 1 have occupied is quite insufficient to do justice to the matter. 1 have, however, endeavoured to place before the Congress, somewhat imperfectly, I fear, the views of a country that is the only one that so far has in operation the principles of a system of universal penny postage, which lias worked well in every respect, nationally, commercially, domestically, and, above all, financially. In the belief that equally as satisfactory results would follow in other countries as in my own, 1 gave notice of this proposal, and came to the Congress to place it before the delegates; and, though the country I represent is far distant in the Southern Pacific, it will not, I am sure, be regarded as out of place that I should move in the matter. I have submitted this proposal to the Congress from a strong conviction and in a sincere and - earnest belief that the establishing universal penny postage would be one of the greatest postal reforms the world lias ever seen, and would make the postal services of our countries infinitely niore beneficial than they have ever been. I fully recognise the magnificent work that postal administrations, especially those countries within the Union, have carried out, and I trust that the wisdom and discernment that have characterized the policy of postal progress will continue to be manifested in connection with this great reform, and that, in the expressive language of the Secretary of State for Italy at the opening sitting of this Congress, we shall, as delegates, show that we are in postal matters progressive " citizens of the world." I move the- resolution. Mat I.—First Committee (Eighth Sitting). The motion was seconded by Saba Pasha (Egypt), who, after paying a tribute to the spirit of progress and initiative of the New Zealand Postmaster-General, stated that the experience of New Zealand subsequent to the lowering of the postal tariff was similar to that of all other countries which had made reductions. In Egypt, each time the rates had been reduced the results surpassed all expectations. In addition to all"the advantages enumerated by Sir Joseph Ward, the reduction of the international rate would confer a great benefit on the millions of emigrants scattered all over the world. Each of the proposals submitted to the Congress (in regard to postal rates) constituted an advance on the existing regime; but that of New Zealand approached the nearest to the fundamental principle of the Union—Article I—which pronounces that the countries of the Union form but one postal territory. This principle would only receive its full application when all diffeicnces between the international tariff and the internal tariff of each country disappeared.— (Applause.) The Japanese delegation, at this stage, supported its motion for a 20-centime rate for 15 grammes in a brief speech. Sir Joseph Ward, replying for New Zealand, insisted on the serious and practical nature of his proposal. He fully recognised that the financial side must be carefully considered by every country : but he contended that the case he had developed in his previous speech was such as to dispel apprehensions of this sort and other objections and criticisms made in the debate. If, however, his motion was not adopted, he would vote for that of Japan, which marked a step in advance. " Half a loaf was better than no bread," and he would do his test to secure the remainder later. After some other proceedings the motion of New Zealand was put to the vote, and rejected by 18 to 3, and 4 abstentions. Ayes: United States of America, Australasia, and Egypt.