25

F.—B

scheme) between the week-end cable service and the deferred service. Further, they consider that in the conditions as now established the Board have gone as far in the way of concessions to the public as the interests of their revenue justify in existing circumstances. Nevertheless, for the sake of a greater uniformity of conditions for British cables at large, they have already signified their willingness to agree to a reduction of the minimum charge per message for Australasian traffic to 15s. (T.W.T. the indicator word), a concession which, as explained in my letter of 14: th August last, will entail on the Board more than a proportionate loss; and, in deference to the views of the Postmaster-General here and in Australia, they are now willing to go a, step further. They are willing to waive their objection to the doing away with receipt and delivery of week-end cable messages by post, provided that the Commonwealth Government will consent to accept the present out-payment of Id. per word as covering inland transmission by wire within the Commonwealth, as well as all other terminal charges. The Board do not think that this condition can be regarded as an unreasonable one, seeing that on the one hand the Commonwealth Government receives the Id. per word on a large number of messages (probably a majority of them) which they do not handle in any way'whatever; and on the other that the concession is made by the Board in deference to the wishes of the Commonwealth Government, and to facilitate administrative convenience in Australia, as well as in the United Kingdom. In New Zealand it will no doubt be necessary for the Board to pay the inland charge when incurred, seeing that the New Zealand Government make no terminal charge whatever on week-end cable messages. I have not communicated with the Atlantic cable companies on this point. But I presume that it will always remain open to them to make use of the post, at any rate for delivery of week-end cables, should they prefer to do so in cases where delivery by post would ensure a message reaching its destination by Tuesday morning; and in that case the matter could hardly be of much moment to them. The Board feel that they must adhere to the condition of non-delivery at an earlier time than Tuesday morning, as otherwise all appreciable distinction between week-end cables and deferred messages would be obliterated. I shall be obliged if you will let me know (if possible by Thursday next) whether the Post-master-General would wish himself to bring this matter before the Commonwealth Government, or whether he would prefer that the Board should ask the Acting High Commissioner to do so. I have, <fee., The Secretary, General Post Office, London E.C. H. W. Primrose, Chairman. Sub-enclosure 4 in No. 32. The Secretary, General Post Office, London, to the Chairman, Pacific Cable Board, London. Sir, — General Post Office, London, 27th November, 1913. I am directed by the Postmaster-General to say that he has received with pleasure your letter of the 25th instant, intimating that the Pacific Cable Board are prepared, under certain conditions, to agree to the proposal for a single uniform rate of 9d. a word (with a minimum of 155.) for cable letters to Australasia, this rate to include transmission by telegraph in the country of origin and destination when necessary to secure despatch during the week-end and delivery by Tuesday. The Postmaster-General will be glad if the Board will undertake the necessary communication to the Australian Government. The acceptance by this Department of a rate of 375 centimes a word for such cable letters as pass over its lines is, as already explained, subject to Treasury approval. T have, &c., Right Hon. Sir Henry Primrose, X.C.8., C.S.I. A. F. King, Secretary.

No. 33. The Sbcretaby, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Superintendent, Eastern Extension Company, Wakapuaka. Sir,— General Post Office, Wellington, 18th December, 1913. In reference to your letter of the 4th June last, raising the question whether week-end cable messages posted from the cable-station and not delivered should be dealt with as unclaimed letters or undelivered telegrams, I beg to inform you that such messages will continue to be dealt with as unclaimed letters. This is in accordance with International Regulation XLVII (10), and is the rule in the United Kingdom. I have, &c, W. R. Morris, Secretary. The Superintendent, Eastern Extension Australasia and China Telegraph Company (Limited), Wakapuaka, Nelson. P. & T. 11/16.] 4—F. 8.