Carriage of Mails.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 127, 2 June 1904, Page 3

Carriage of Mails.

THE VICTORIAN OVERPAYMENT INCIDENT. (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, June 1. Referring to the alleged overpayments for the carriage of Victorian mails, as detailed in cable messages, Mr W. Gray, secretary to the General Post Office, states that it is quite incorrect that the Victorian postal authorities have continued remitting to New Zealand. The last remittance received from Victoria was in November, 1902, when the Deputy Postmaster-General wrote advising that £1641 ltis 6d had been credited in a money order account for the conveyance of Victorian mail matter for the year ended June 30th last. This money was paid over to the Auckland agents of the Oceanic Company, and the Victorian post ollice was informed that the collection of all moneys due by non-contracting States for the carriage of their mails by the San Francisco service would cease as from June 30th. 1901. Mr Gray also wrote to the Auckland agents of the Oceanic Company, pointing out that the company was advisod that it should make its own arrangements for collecting amounts due by Australian States. On December 17th, 1902, the Auckland agents wrote saying that they were advising the Sydney agents of the Oceanic Steamship Company to make claims on the Federal Post-master-General for future payments. Mr Gray says he knows nothing of the £3920 referred to in the ca'hJe message. With respect to the final paragraph of this morning's message Mr Gray explains that there is no contract between the Oceanic Com*pany and the Federal Government in respwet to the carriage of outward Australian mails ; but the Federal postal authorities have fixed a rate of payment for the conveyance of mails which may be sent by any steamer. Mr Gray says that though the Oceanic Company may make a protest and requests such as those mentioned it is entirely within the power of the postal authorities of Australia to grant or refuse any such requests, as they think fit. The company's complaints hnve no reference to New Zealand, with which (in contradistinction to Australia) there is a definite contract.

CABLE NEWS. (United Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright.)