5

F.—7

cheapened international postage, and the proofs she has given of her faith in the beneficence of that scheme, will secure for her a prominent place in. any proposals you may make for extending its operations on your part. 1 have, &c, J. G. Ward, Postmaster-General. The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Washington, D.C. P.O. 07/1692(3).]

i Enclosure in|No. 6. [News Extract, 3rd October, 1907.J (Cablegram.) New York, 2nd October, 1907. The United States Government is negotiating with Great Britain to charge a penny per ounce for letters. If successful, it will try the same plan with other countries which have direct steamship communication with the United States.

No. 7. The Secretary, General Post Office, London, to the Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington. Sir, — , General Post Office, London, 28th October, 1907. 1 am directed by the Postmaster-General to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 15th August last, in which you express the hope that the rate of postage on newspapers and periodicals sent from the United Kingdom to the Dominion of New Zealand by direct steamers may be reduced to Id. per pound, as was done in the case of newspapers, &c, sent from the United Kingdom to Canada. In reply, I am to inform you that, as Mr. Buxton has more than once publicly stated, the reduction referred to was based on the very special and peculiar position, geographical and otherwise, occupied by Canada, as the result of which British newspapers, magazines, &c, were unable to obtain a footing in Canada, their place being taken by American publications. There do not appear to the Postmaster-General to be similar circumstances in the case of New Zealand, which is thus differentiated entirely from that of Canada. Mr. Buxton regrets, therefore, that he would not feel justified in recommending His Majesty's Government to meet your wishes by an extension of the special arrangement to which you refer. 1 have, &c, H. Babington Smith. The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington. [P.O. 07/1433.J

No. 8. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Secretary, Postmaster-General's Department, Melbourne. (Telegram.) Wellington, 31st October, 1907. Your Melbourne office apparently taxing letters already prepaid here penny ounce. No doubt misunderstanding. Kindly arrange. [P.O. 07/2905.]

No. 9. The Secretary, Postmaster-General's Department, Melbourne, to the Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. (Telegram.) Melbourne, Ist November, 1907. Your cablegram yesterday : No request received from your Administration to accept ounce letters prepaid at penny. [P.O. 07/2905.]

No. 10. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Secretary, Postmaster-General's Department, Melbourne. (Telegram.) Wellington, Bth November, 1907. Ounce minimum from first October was assumed in absence of any announcement that British Government proposals of twenty-third November, 1906 [No. 14, F.-7, 1907.], not accepted by any participant in penny-postage arrangement. London Post Office letter of twenty-first September [No. 3] assumes no objection raised in Commonwealth. Obliged if you will accept our letters. [P.O. 07/2905.]