f.—a
18
I have to request that you will be so good as to submit this proposal to-your Government; and should both Governments concur, the Board would further suggest that the new arrangement should come into force on Ist January, 1912, at which date it is expected that the international agreement will also be brought into operation. I have, &c, H. W. Primrose, Chairman. Sir William Hall-Jones, K.C.M.G., High Commissioner for New Zealand, 13 Victoria Street, S.W.
No. 27. The Right Hon. the Prime Minister to the High Commissioner. (Telegram.) Wellington, 30th October, 1911. In reply to your telegram of 27th October, approve deferred-rate telegrams. [P.O. Rates 11/232.]
No. 28. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the. Manager in the Pacific, Pacific Cable Board, Sydney. (Telegram.) Wellington, 15th November, 1911. Deferred cables : Allocation Pacific cable one penny halfpenny, New Zealand and Australia halfpenny each. We advised High Commissioner 30th October that New Zealand approved. Has Commonwealth approved, or is it necessary for us to write Postmaster-General's Department? [P.O. Rates 11/238.]
No. 29. The Manager in the Pacific, Pacific Cable Board, Sydney, to the Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. (Telegram.) Sydney, 15th November, 1911. Negotiations re deferred rates evidently being carried on direct between London administrations concerned. Am asking Board by telegraph if Commonwealth accepted, or whether necessary you write Postmaster-General's Department, Melbourne.
No. 30. The High Commissioner to the Right Hon. the Prime Minister. (Telegram.) London, 30th November, 1911. Proposed deferred-cable rates between Australia and New Zealand. Australia declines to accept halfpenny word because less than ordinary rate. This blocks proposal. Suggest you arrange solution with Australia. [P.O. Rates 11/275.]
No. 31. The Right Hon. the Secretary of State for the Colonies to His Excellency the Governor. (Telegram.) London, 4th December, 1911. With reference to proposal of Postmaster-General for reduction in cable rates (see pages 285, 286 of Proceedings of Imperial Conference), he has arranged scheme for accepting extra-European plain-language telegrams at half present rates on condition that they might be deferred if necessary for not more than twenty-four hours. This scheme has been accepted by British cable companies, and will come into force, it is hoped, on Ist January in service with those British possessions and foreign countries which desire to accept it, and which will reduce charge made by them in respect to such telegrams by one-half. Despatch follows by mail with details. Please telegraph as soon as possible whether your Ministers accept this proposal, and will introduce similar rates from Ist January next for telegrams to the United Kingdom. [P.O. Rates 11/282.]
No. 32. The Right Hon. the Prime Minister, Wellington, to the Right Hon. the Prime Minister of the Commonwealth, Melbourne. Sir, — Prime Minister's Office, Wellington, 6th December, 1911. I have the honour to refer to the proposal which I made to you in my letter of the 9th February last [No. 24, F.-S, 1911] for the introduction of an experimental system of deferred plain-language cable messages via the Pacific cable between New Zealand and Australia. I was gratified to learn recently that the Pacific Cable Board agreed to the establishing of the system;