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No. 24 The Right Hon. the Prime Minister, Wellington, to the Hon. the Prime Minister of the Commonwealth, Melbourne. Sir, — Prime Minister's Office, Wellington, 9th February, 1911. 1 have the honour to refer to the meeting held in London on the 22nd November last of the committee appointed to consider the proposals for the acceptance of plain-language telegrams at reduced rates under certain conditions in the extra-European system. The report [not printed] of the committee warrants my suggesting, pending the settlement of the larger question, the establishment of a " deferred " system in Australasia, in accordance with the authority given by Article 17 of the International Telegraph Convention. I therefore beg to propose that an experimental system of "deferred" cable messages via the Pacific cable be established between New Zealand and Australia for a year on the following conditions :— 1. The rate to be half the rate charged for ordinary telegrams. 2. No telegram to contain in address and signature less than five words. 3. Telegrams to be sent at night and posted in time for the first delivery. i. Telegrams to be entirely in plain language; the text to have an intelligible meaning to the person accepting it for transmission, and not to include a succession of numbers, names, or words without connected meaning. 5. Only the " admitted " languages to be used. 6. Only one language to be used in any one telegram. 7. Numbers to be written in words except in the address. 8. The sender at the time of handing in to sign a declaration, if required, that the text of the telegram is entirely in plain language and is not intended to bear a second meaning; also that he will substantiate his declaration if called upon to do so. 9. The Departments and the Board to reserve the righi to refuse to accept or to transmit any telegram at the reduced rate. This proposal is also being made to the Pacific Cable Board. 1 have, &c, J. G. Ward, Prime Minister. The Hon. the Prime Minister, Commonwealth of Australia, Melbourne. [Letter in similar terms sent on same date to the Manager in the Pacific, Pacific Cable Board, Sydney, by the Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington.] P.C. Rates 11/122.]
No. 25. The Right Hon. the Prime Minister to the High Commissioner. (Telegram.) Wellington, 13th February, 1911. This Dominion desires you urge Pacific Cable Board establish experimental deferred-telegram system Australasia for one year under Article 17 Telegraph Convention basis revised conditions your letter of the 2nd December 1010 [not printed], except that telegrams to be sent at night and posted time first delivery. [P.C. Rates 11/118.]
No. 26. The Manager in the Pacific, Pacific Cable Board, Sydney, to the Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. Sir, Dixson's Buildings, 64 Pitt Street, Sydney, 22nd February, 1911. I have the honour to acknowledge receipt oi, and to thank you for, your letter of the 9th instant, in which it is proposed that an experimental system of " deferred " cable messages be established via the Pacific cable in Australasia for one year on conditions similar to those proposed by the committee sitting in London on the 22nd November last to consider a similar proposal in connection with a " deferred " rate for extra-European traffic. It is, I consider, practically certain that your proposal will meet with the hearty support of my Board, providing no obstacle is found under the regulations of the International Telegraph Convention, and so far as I can see Article 17 entirely covers the case. I am communicating with my Boird on the matter, and hope for an early and favourable reply. I shall, of course, be much interested to hear the Commonwealth Government's views on the matter. l have, &c, .). Milward, Manager in the Pacific. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. P.C. Rates 11/78.]