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No. 72. The Right Hon. the Prime Minister to the High Commissioner Wellington, 20th March, 1908. Sir, — Lisbon International Telegraph Conference. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 7th ultimo on the abovenoted subject. In connection with the propositions to be placed before the Conference on the 4th May next, 1 beg to forward herewith notes [not printed] on the proposals which affect this Dominion. The notes are not as complete as I would wish them to be, on account of the limited time at disposal for translation and consideration of the propositions, but it is hoped to supplement them by further notes next mail. You will, no doubt, bring under the notice of the representative of the International Bureau that a reasonable time should have been allowed to enable this Dominion to digest the propositions. An interval of a few days is not sufficient to enable 283 pages in French to be translated and considered. It is most unfortunate that there should have been such delay on the part of the Official Bureau, in addition to the failure of the Portuguese Government to send the usual formal invitation. In the case of a Conference taking place at such long intervals as five years, it is considered that all documents should be in the hands of Administrations at least five months before the date fixed for the sitting of the Conference. In view of the necessarily hurried consideration given by this Government to the proposals, it would be desirable that you should confer with the British delegate and generally support the attitude adopted by him. I also enclose, for your information, a report of the discussion of the propositions of the Eastern and other cable companies at a meeting held at the General Post Office, London, on the 9th August last [Sub-enclosure to Enclosure 2 in No. 59]; also a copy of letter on the matter, dated the 15th January last [No. 63], from the Secretary, General Post Office, London, to the Postmaster-General, Wellington. The proposition in which New Zealand is most interested is No. 5, " Routes," as it affects traffic diverted from the Pacific cable route to that of the Eastern Extension Company, and it is considered essential that users of the Pficific cable should have the right, during temporary interruption to the land-lines in this Dominion, to indicate a second route by which their messages for the United Kingdom may reach the Pacific route at Southport. I should be glad if you would send, addressed to the Secretary, Post and Telegraph Department, Wellington, six copies of the propositions translated into English. I have, Ac. Robert McNab, For Prime Minister. The Hon. W. P. Reeves, High Commissioner for New Zealand, London. [Tel. 08/822(2).]

No. 73. The Secretary, Wellington Chamber of Commerce, Wellington, to the Hon. the PostmasterGeneral, Wellington. Sir, — Wellington Chamber of Commerce, Wellington, 9th April, 1908. I have the honour, by direction, to inform you that the Council of this Chamber has learned with regret that it is contemplated by the Telegraph Conference, which is proposed to be held in Lisbon in June [May] of this year, to move in the direction of restricting the facilities at present enjoyed for the coding of telegrams. My Council is of opinion that, taking into consideration the heavy expense involved in remodelling and extending private codes, any curtailment of facilities would prejudicially affect the interests of trade and commerce. My Council hopes, therefore, that you will be good enough to take such steps as you may consider advisable to oppose any interference with existing telegraphic facilities. I have, Ac, The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington. S. Carroll, Secretary. [Similar letters received from the Chambers of Commerce at Christchurch and Napier.] [Tel. 08/822(6).]

No. 74. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Director-General of Posts ano Telegraphs, Lisbon. Sir,— General Post Office, Wellington, 10th April, 1908. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 22nd February last [not printed], inquiring whether this Administration would forgo its proportion of the charges on telegrams sent by delegates and representatives of cable companies present at the International Telegraph Conference to be held at Lisbon in May next. In reply, I have to inform you that this Department has pleasure in agreeing to the proposal. I have, Ac D. Robertson, Secretary. The Director-General of Posts and Telegraphs, Lisbon. [Tel. 08/822.]