MADRID POSTAL CONFERENCE

Hokitika Guardian, 11 February 1921, Page 3

MADRID POSTAL CONFERENCE

.Mil .MORRIS RETURN'S

[BY TKIiKOKAI'II —l'Kll Vlt ESS ASSOCIATION] WELLINGTON, Feb. 11.

Air .Morris, Secretary of the P. 0., has returned from thq Postal Conference at Madrid, the first held for 14 years. The one arranged for 1914 was cancelled by the war. One hundred and sixtv-five delegates attended, including Austria, Hungary, and Turkey. Mr Morris was able to induce the conference to adopt the franking ma-

chine used in New Zealand. He took j one with him, and the delegates were ( greatly pleased with its working. He | also secured the adoption of minimum ( postage imposed by the country of i Oregon. Sonic countries have been ini- I posing a tax oil foreign letters, hut if I they have the correct postage of the | country from whence they emanate no super-tax will now lie allowed.

French was the official language of the conference. This was altered to French and English. Mr Morris says

75 per cent of the delegates could speak English better than French. An attempt was made by the American delegates to restrict England and the Dominions to one vote, which would have given the little counrios of Central and South America great superiority. It was lost by 42 to 21. The delegates wore very hospitably treated, and taken to Granada, Cordova, Seville and other show places.