19

F.—B.

but I now regret to learn that your Government is reported to decline to accept the proposed allocation of the rate of 2Jd. a word, under which you would receive |d. I should be glad if you could see your way to reconsider the proposal. In my opinion, it is desirable that the system be given a trial; and, as the proposed allocation of rates does not appear to meet with your approval, 1 shall be glad to have your own proposals on that point. I have, &c, J. G. Wakd, Prime Minister. The Eight Hon. the Prime Minister, Commonwealth of Australia, Melbourne. LP.O. Rates 11/277.]

No. 33. The Manager in the Pacific, Pacific Cable Board, Sydney, to the Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. (Telegram.) Sydney, 6th December, 1911. Board advise to-day deferred plain-language scheme at half existing rates will come into force on Ist January. This applies to all international traffic, but not between Australia and New Zealand, or between Australia and Norfolk Island and Fiji. Am posting copy rules and regulations under which these messages accepted. [P.C. Rates 11/285.]

No. 34. The Right Hon. the Secretary of State fob the Colonies to His Excellency the Governor. Mt Lord, — Downing Street, 7th December, 1911. With reference to my telegram of the 4th December, I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, the accompanying copy of the conditions of the proposed service of deferred plain-language telegrams at reduced rates. F have, &c, Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c. L. Harcourt. [P.C. Rates 11/266.]

Enclosure in No. 34. Deferhed Telegrams at reduced Rates. 1. The sender of a private telegram in the extra-European service may obtain the benefit of a reduction of 50 per cent, in the charge on condition that the telegram is written in plain language, as defined hereafter, and that it is not transmitted until after telegrams charged for at the full rate. Form and Handing in. 2. Declaration by Sender. —The sender must sign, when handing in the telegram, a declaration giving a formal assurance that the text is entirely in plain language, and that it does not bear any meaning other than that which appears on the face of it. The declaration must specify the language in which the telegram is written. 3. Supplementary Instructions. —The sender of a deferred telegram at reduced rates must insert before the address the supplementary instruction L C completed as is laid down in paragraph 4. This instruction is counted in the number of words charged for. 4. Form. —The text of deferred telegrams must be written entirely in plain language, and must not contain any figures, commercial marks, groups of letters, or signs of punctuation or abbreviated expressions (Article VII of International Regulations). Any telegram containing a succession of isolated letters, of numbers, of names, or of words without connected meaning, and, generally, any telegram which does not in the opinion of the telegraph service bear an intelligible meaning on the face of it is not admitted to the benefit of the reduced rate. Registered addresses are accepted if accompanied by a text which makes their nature clear. Numbers must be written in words. Telegrams without text are not admitted. Telegrams at reduced rates must be written in French, or in one of the languages of the country of origin or destination, specified by the administrations concerned, and authorized for international telegraphic correspondence in plain language. According as the language employed is French, a language of the country of origin, or a language of the country of destination, the supplementary instruction L C is completed and becomes LC F, I/CO, or LCD. The use of two or more languages in the same telegram is not allowed. The wording of the address and the signature of these telegrams is governed by the rules in force for ordinary telegrams. 5. Counting of Words. —The words in the address, in the text, and in the signature are counted according to the rules in force for ordinary telegrams. Rates and Charges. 6. Regime. —Deferred telegrams at reduced rates art; admitted in the service between countries in the European Regime and countries in the Extra-European Regime (including Senegal). As regards the service between countries in the Extra-European Regime (including Senegal), except by special arrangement to the contrary, deferred telegrams are only admitted if the charge for ordinary telegrams is not less than 1 franc per word.