THE POSTAL CONGRESS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXVIX, Issue 8138, 12 May 1906, Page 5

THE POSTAL CONGRESS.

Received May 11, 8.56 a.m. ROME, May 10. The committee of the Postal Congress has rejected all proposals dealing with chain-letter* and "snowballs." The Congress, in plenary session, deprived the Transvaal and Orange Kiver Colony of votes. The Congress increased the weight of letters to twenty grammes, maintaining the existing rate for each additional twenty grammes, fixed at fifteen centimes at Britain's instance. NEW ZEALAND OBTAINS A SEPARATE VOTE. Received May 11, 10.22 p.m. ROME, May 11. The proposal to give New Zealan I a separate vote was carried by 22 votes to 20 votes. Seventeen delegates abstained Jfrom voting and three were absent. The British ; delegates urged the fairness of the proposal. j Sir J, G. Ward declared that New Zealand's postal revenue exceeded that of some of the oountri s in the Postal Union who had a separate vote. If the proposal were rejected it would be unjust, and for reasons outside of postal matters such decisions would shake the confidence in the impartiality of the Postal Union. Germany and France strongly opposed Sir J. G. Ward. Cuba supported the proposal. Sir J. G. Ward made the next . speech' in French, thanking the Congress. The result was received with applause. Additional votes were given to the German 7 '' Colonies, Franoe, Italy and Portugal.