UNIVERSAL PENNY POSTAGE (FURTHER PAPERS RELATIVE TO). [In continuation of F.-7, presented on the 10th October, 1911.]

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1912 Session II, F-07

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Session 11. 1912. NEW ZEALAND

UNIVERSAL PENNY POSTAGE (FURTHER PAPERS RELATIVE TO). [In continuation of F.-7, presented on the 10th October, 1911.]

Presented, to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

I N D E X. No. Page Agreement governing postal rates with French Oceania .. .. .. 10 S- 4 Australia: reduced postage on printed papers .. , . . . .. 25, 26 9," 10 Brunei, State of, included in Imperial penny postage . . .. .. 5 £ 3 Electrotypes, transmission of, by book or pattern post . . . . .. 21, 22 st[B French Oceania: agreement governing postal rates .. .. . . 10 fi „ negotiations for establishment of penny post .. .. 1, 3, 4, 6-10, 12-15 1-6 Imperial Conference: resolution regarding postal rates ...... 2 1 Magazines from United Kingdom to New Zealand .. .. .. 19, 23 8, 9 Newspapers, colonial, inland rate of postage on, in United Kiigdom .. 16, 17, 20-22, 24, 27 7, 8, 10 „ >m weighty, from United Kingdom to New Zealand .. .. 18, 19, 23 7, 8, 9 Periodicals" from United Kingdom to New Zealand .. .. .. 23 9 Printed papers from United Kingdom to New Zealand .. .. .. 19 8 - W,7 m> *■ > reduced postage on, from Australia .. .. .. 25, 26 9, 10 Southern Rhodesia: proposed introduction of penny post .. .. 11 5 Stereotypes by book or pattern post .. .. .. .. .. 21, 22 8

No. 1. The Right Hon. the Secretary op State for the Colonies to His Excellency the Governor. My Lord, — Downing Street, 18th July, 1911. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch, No. 64, of the 18th May [not printed], on the subject of the postage-rate between New Zealand and French Oceania. 2. In reply, I have to request that you will inform your Ministers that while in this country Sir Joseph Ward suggested that, pending the completion of diplomatic negotiations, arrangements could be made by which letters from New Zealand could be sent at the reduced rate, with effect from the date of the Coronation. The French Government was approached on this subject, but found themselves unable to accept the proposal, and I have accordingly now requested the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to ask them to accept the agreement of which a draft accompanied your despatch under reference. 3. I shall inform you in due course of the views of the French Government on this matter. I have, &c, L. Harcourt. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c. P.O. 10/981(1).]

No. 2. The Right Hon. the Secretary op State for the Colonies to His Excellency the Governor. My Lord, — Downing Street, 28th July, 1911. With reference to my despatch of the 24th of February [not printed], I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, copy of a resolution passed by the Imperial Conference in favour of further reductions in postal rates [see No. 11, F.-7, 1911].

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2. From the General Post Office memorandum printed on pages 135 et xeq. of Cd. 5273, your Ministers will have observed that the policy of further reductions in postage-rates has been steadily pursued since the similar resolution of the Colonial Conference of 1907. The views expressed and the resolution of the Colonial Conference will continue to be acted upon by His Majesty's Government as opportunity arises. I have, &c, L. Harcouht. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., <fco. [P.O. 11/3678.]

No. 3. The Right Hon. the Secretary of State for the Colonies to His Excellency the Governor. Mt Lord, — Downing Street, 2nd August, 1911. With reference to my despatch of tho 18th ultimo, I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, a copy of correspondence with the Foreign Office as regards the form in which the proposed arrangement with France for the reduction of postal rates between New Zealand and French Oceania should be carried out. I have, &c, L. Harcourt Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., <fee. [P.O. 10/981(1).]

Enclosure 1 in No. 3. The Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies to the Under-Secretary of State, Foreign Office. Sir, — Downing Street, 17th July, 1911. I am directed by Mr. Secretary Harcourt to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 11th of July [not printed] on the subject of penny postage between New Zealand and French Oceania. 2. In reply, I am to transmit to you, to be laid before Secretary Sir E. Grey, the accompanying copy of a despatch [not printed] from the Governor of New Zealand forwarding a draft Convention to carry out the proposed arrangement. A copy of this despatch was sent to Sir Joseph Ward before his departure from this country, with a request for an intimation of his views on the matter, but he did not find it possible to deal with the question before he left England. 3. Mr. Harcourt will therefore be glad if the French Government can now be invited to enter into the Convention on the lines of that enclosed in Lord Islington's despatch. i. I am to add that the General Post Office is being informed of what is being done. I have, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Foreign Office. C. P. Lucas.

Enclosure 2 in No. 3. The Under-Sbcretary of State, Foreign Office, to the Under-Secretaky of State for the Colonies. Sir,— Foreign Office, 24th July, 1911. I am directed by Secretary Sir E. Grey to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 17th instant, forwarding a draft Convention between the United Kingdom and France for the reduction of postal rates between the Dominion of New Zealand and French Oceania. In reply, I am to observe that it does not appear necessary that the arrangement in question should take the form of a Convention containing provisions for the exchange of ratifications between His Majesty and the President of the French Republic. In Sir E. Grey's opinion, an agreement between the two Governments would fully meet the case, and I am therefore to suggest that the draft might be amended accordingly, and that in place of the first part of Article IV a provision should be substituted to fhe effect that it shall come into operation on a fixed date. Such date might be agreed to by both parties previous to signature. If Mr. Secretary Harcourt concurs, a preamble in the form usual in the case of agreements between Governments will also be inserted in the draft, which will then be forwarded to Hie Majesty's Ambassador at Paris for submission to the French Government. I am, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office. W. Langlbt.

Enclosure 3 in No. 3. The Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies to the Under-Secretary op State, Foreign Office. Sir, — Downing Street, Ist August, 1911. I am directed by Mr. Secretary Harcourt to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 24th ultimo, and to state that he concurs in Sir E. Grey's suggestion that the proposed arrangement with France for the reduction of postal rates between New Zealand and French Oceania should take the form of an agreement between the two Governments, the draft Convention enclosed in the letter from this Department of the 17th ultimo being amended as proposed in your letter. I am, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Foreign Office, C P, Lucas.

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No. 4. The Right Hon. the Secretary of State for the Colonies to His Excellency the Governor. Mr Lord, — Downing Street, 16th August, 1911. With reference to my despatch of the 2nd of August, I hare the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, the accompanying copy of a despatch to His Majesty's Ambassador at Paris enclosing, for submission to the French Government, the draft of an agreement to regulate postal rates on letters passing between New Zealand and French Oceania. 2. I should be glad to learn by telegraph from what date your Ministers would desire the proposed agreement to take effect. I have, &c, Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c. L. Harcourt.

Enclosure in No. 4. The Right Hon. the Secretary of State, Foreign Office, to His Excellency the British Ambassador, Paris. Sir,-- Foreign Office, 9th August, 1911. With reference to Your Excellency's despatch (Treaty) of the Bth ultimo [not printed] respecting the proposed establishment of penny postage between New Zealand and French Oceania, I have to inform you that the Government of New Zealand have now communicated, through His Majesty's Secretary of State for the Colonies, the draft of an agreement for carrying into effect the arrangement proposed. 1 enclose herewith a copy of the draft agreement in question [not printed; see No. 10], and I shall be glad if Your Excellency will now submit it to the French Government for their approval. I am, &c, His Excellency the Right Hon. Sir F. Bertie, G.C.8., G.C.M.G., &c. ' [Copy; not signed.]

No. 5. The Right Hon. the Secretary of State for the Colonies to His Excellency the Governor. My Lord, — Downing Street, 18th August, 1911. With reference to previous correspondence respecting the adoption of the Imperial pennypostage scheme, I have the honour to acquaint you, for the information of your Ministers, that the State of Brunei has now been included in that scheme. I have, &c, L. Harcourt. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c. [P.O. 11/55(6).] __^_^____________

No. 6. The Right Hon. the Secretary of State for the Colonies to His Excellency the Governor. (Telegram.) London, Ist December, 1911. With reference to your telegram of 29th October [not printed], Government of France now desire that in postal rates agreement with regard to French Oceania equivalent of ounce should be 28349 grammes, and not 20 grammes as originally contemplated. Presume your Government see no objection. Telegraph reply. [P.O. 11/55(8).] _________________

No. 7. The Right Hon. the Prime Minister to His Excellency the Governor. (Telegram.) Invercargill, 6th December, 1911. In reply to your memorandum of the 2nd instant [not printed], forwarding copy of telegram from the Secretary of State for the Colonies on the subject of postal relations with French colonies, I beg to inform you that this Government agrees to the equivalent of the ounce avoirdupois being 28\349 grammes, instead of 20 grammes as originally contemplated.

No. 8. The Right Hon. the Secretary op State for the Colonies to His Excellency the Governor. (Telegram.) London, 2nd January, 1912. With reference to your telegram of 7th December [not printed], agreement regarding postage-rates with French Oceania signed December 26th.

No. 9. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to all Chief Postmasters. (Telegram.) Wellington, Bth January, 1912. Postage to Tahiti and other places in French Oceania reduced to Id. per ounce from 6th instant.

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No. 10. The Eight Hon. the Secretart of State fob the Colonies to His Excellency the Governor. Mt Lord, — Downing Street, 12th January, 1912. With reference to my telegram of the 2nd January, I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, the accompanying copy of a despatch from His Majesty's Ambassador at Paris, transmitting copies of the agreement to regulate postal rates upon letters passing between New Zealand and French Oceania, which His Excellency signed on the 29th of December. 2. The French Government have not yet stated their views as to the date on which the agreement should take effect. I will telegraph to you on this point when their views are known. 3. Your Ministers will observe that in the French text [not printed] of the agreement the word " convention " occurs in Article IV instead of the word " agreement." The attention of the French Government has been called to this error, but they do not consider it necessary to alter the text now that it has actually been signed. I have, &c, Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c. L. Harcoubt. [P.O. 12/316(1).] Enclosure" 1 in No. 10. His Excellency the British Ambassador, Paris, to the Right Hon. the Secretary of State, Foreign Office. Sir,— Paris, 30th December, 1911. With reference to my telegram of to-day's date [not printed], I have the honour to transmit to you herewith the agreement to regulate postal rates upon letters passing between New Zealand and French Oceania, which, in accordance with the instructions contained in your despatch of the 14th October last, I signed yesterday with the French Minister for Foreign Affaire. Twenty copies of the agreement are likewise enclosed herein. I have, &c, The Right Hon. Sir Edward Grey, Bart., M.P., &c. Francis Berths. Enclosure 2 in No. 10. Agreement to regulate Postal Rates upon Letters passing between New Zealand and French Oceania. The Government of His Britannic Majesty and the Government of the French Republic have agreed upon the following articles with a view of regulating the postal rates upon letters passing between the Dominion of New Zealand and French Oceania: — Article I. In accordance with the provisions of Article 21 (twenty-one) of the Universal Postal Union concluded at Rome on the twenty-sixth day of May, one thousand nine hundred and six, it is agreed to modify the postal rates on letters sent from New Zealand addressed to places in French Oceania and on letters sent from French Oceania addressed to places in the Dominion of New Zealand. Article 11. The modifications referred to in the preceding article shall be as follows : — Every letter from New Zealand addressed to French Oceania shall pay postage of one penny (ten centimes of a franc) for every ounce (28 gr. 349) or fraction of that weight, instead of two and half pence (twenty-five centimes of a franc) for the first ounce or fraction of that weight, and one penny half-penny (fifteen centimes of a franc) for every additional ounce or fraction of that weight. Every letter from French Oceania addressed to New Zealand shall pay a postage of ten centimes of a franc for every twenty grammes or fraction of that weight instead of twenty-five centimes of a franc for the first twenty grammes or fraction of that weight and fifteen centimes of a franc for each additional twenty grammes or fraction of that weight. Article HI. The Post Offices of New Zealand and French Oceania shall deliver the letters referred to in the preceding article without making any charge to the addressees, provided that such articles do not bear any indication of insufficient postage, in which case the provision contained in Article XI, paragraph 2, of the Detailed Regulations of the above-mentioned Universal Postal Convention of Rome shall be applicable. Article IV. This agreement shall come into operation on a date to be fixed by the respective Postal Administrations, and shall remain in force until six months after either of the contracting parties shall have notified to the other its intention of terminating the same. In witness whereof, the undersigned have signed the present agreement, and have affixed thereto the seal of their arms. Done, in duplicate, at Paris, on 29th December, 1911. Francis Bertie. J. db Selves. [The agreement is also made in French]

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No. 11. [News Extract, Ist January, m 2. ifrom L'Vnion Poilale.] : The Postal Service op Southern Rhodesia in the Year 1909. As the telegraph and telephone services also showed satisfactory progress, the Postmaster-General of Southern Rhodesia believes that the moment has arrived for introducing penny postage to all parts of the British Empire. The estimated loss through this reduction of postage would be £3,000 a year. [P.O. 12/316(3).] .________»___________

No. 12. His Excellency the Governor to the Right Hon. the Prime Minister. Sir, — Government House, Wellington, 10th February, 1912. I have received the following telegram, dated 9th February, from the Right Hon. trw Secretary of State for the Colonies : — " With reference to my telegram of 2nd January, Government of France state that penny postage agreement cannot be put in force until local arrangement's made and Governor of French Oceania has been asked to telegraph in due course.—Harcourt." The Right Hon. the Prime Minister. Islington, Governor. [P.O. 12/316(1).] __»_______________

No. 13. The Right Hon. the Prime Minister to His Excellency the Governor. (Memorandum.) Prime Minister's Office, Wellington, 12th February, 1912. Penny Postage with French Oceania. In reference to the telegram of the 9th instant from the Right Hon. the Secretary of State for the Colonies saying that penny postage with French Oceania cannot be put in force until local arrangements are made, the Prime Minister begs to submit the opinion that suspending the operation of the penny post should be on the side of French Oceania only, and not on the side of New Zealand. It was announced to the public of New Zealand on the Bth ultimo that postage to Tahiti and other places in French Oceania had been reduced to Id. per ounce from the 6th idem, and it will be confusing and altogether undesirable to revoke this announcement. If the telegram is not intended to bear the assumed construction, the Prime Minister will be obliged if His Excellency will telegraph the Secretary of State asking that it be arranged that the meaning of the telegram be limited in the sense proposed. His Excellency the Governor. J. G. Ward, Prime Minister.

No. 14. The Right Hon. the Secretary of State for the Colonies to His Excellency the Governor, Mt Lord, — Downing Street, 13th February, 1912. I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, the papers noted below on the subject of the penny-postage agreement between New Zealand and French Oceania. I have, &c, The Officer Administering the Government of New Zealand. L. Harcourt

Enclosure in No. 14. His Excellency the British Ambassador, Paris, to the Right Hon. the Secretary of State, Foreign Office. Sir, — Paris, 6th February, 1912. With reference to my despatch of 27th November last [not printed], I have the honour to transmit to you herewith copy of a note from the French Minister for Foreign Affairs, acquainting me that the penny-postage agreement between New Zealand and French Oceania cannot be put in force before the 14th instant, and that the Governor of French Oceania has been instructed to telegraph the date on which he will be in a position to apply the new postal agreement. I have, &c, The Right Hon. Sir Edward Grey, Bart., M.P., &o. Francis Bertie.

Sub-enclosure in No. 14. [Translation. ] His Excellency the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Paris, to His Excellency the British Ambassador, Paris. g IB) Paris, sth February, 1912. The British Royal Embassy has expressed a wish to know the date of the coming into operation of the French-English Convention reducing to Id. the rate on letters between New Zealand and Tahiti. The text of the decree of the 30th December, 1911, inserted in the Journal Officiel of the 31st December, approving the Convention, cannot reach the colony at the earliest before the 14th February next, and T have the honour to inform yon that the publication of the agreement at Papeete cannot take place until that date.

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The colonial Minister has cabled to the Governor of the French establishments in Oceania to ask him to fix by cable the period for which the new scheme will continue. The Minister for Foreign Affairs will inform the British Embassy of the reply received. I have, &c, R. PoiNCARE. His Excellency the Right Hon. Sir F. Bertie, G.C.8., G.C.M.G., &o.

No. 15. The Right Hon. the Secretary op State for the Colonies to His Excellency the Govehsoh. My Lord, — Downing Street, 19th March, 1912. With reference to your telegram of the 15th February [not printed], I have the honour to transmit to you the accompanying copy of a despatch addressed to His Majesty's Ambassador at Paris on the subject of the date of the coming into operation of the agreemetit regarding postagerates between New Zealand and French Oceania, together with copy of the reply received from the Ambassador. 2. I take this opportunity of enclosing copies of the agreement as published in the treaty series. I have, &c, L. Haroourt. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., <fee.

Enclosure in No. 15. The Under-Skoretary of State, Foreign Office, to His Excellency the British Ambassador, Paris. Sir,— Foreign Office, 16th February, 1912. With reference to Sir F. Bertie's despatch of the 6th instant, respecting the pennypostage agreement between New Zealand and French Oceania, I transmit to you herewith a copy of a letter [not printed] now received from the Colonial Office enclosing telegraphic correspondence with the Government of New Zealand on the subject. I should be glad if you would make inquiry and inform me whether the French Government see any objection to the proposal put forward by the New Zealand Government as regards the date of the agreement coming into operation. \ have. &c, The Hon. L. D. Carnegie. M.V.0., fee. Eyre A. Crowe.

Sub-enclosure L in No. 15. His Excellency the Bkitish Ambassador, Paris, to the Right Hon. the Secretary of State, Foreign Office. Sir,— Paris, 14th March, 1912. 1 have the honour to transmit to you herewith copy of Monsieur Poincar6's reply to communication which Mr. Carnegie addressed to His Excellency in accordance with the instructions contained in your despatch of the 16th ultimo respecting the. proposal made by the Government of New Zealand as to the date for the coming into operation of the penny-postagf agreement between New Zealand and French Oceania. 1 have, Ac, (For the Ambassador), The Right Hon. Sir Edward Grey, Bart., M.P., E.G., &o. L. D. Carnegie,

Sub-enclosure 2 in No. 15. Hiis Excellency the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Paris, to His Excellency the British s Ambassador, Paris. [Translation.] Sir,— Paris, 13th .March, 1912. By letter dated the 17th February \i\oi printed], Your Excellency informed me of a proposal of the Governor of New Zealand that the agreement reducing to Id. the postage on single letters between Tahiti and New Zealand should be held in abeyance in Oceania, and not in New Zealand. Referring to the note of this Department dated the sth February, I have the honour to inform Your Excellency that the colonial Minister has cabled accordingly to the Governor of the French establishments of Oceania. The delay caused by this officer in the reply to the cablegram mentioned in the note of this Department is explained by the fact that Tahiti is not connected with any cable, and that all communications must, in order to reach Tahiti, Papeete, make use of the steamship service leaving San Francisco. T have, &c, R. Poincare. His Excellency the Right Hon. Sir F. Bertie, G.C.8., G.C.M.G., Ac.

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REDUCED MAGAZINE. PRINTED PAPERS, AND NEWSPAPER POSTAGE.

No. 16. Mr. R. B. Brett, London, to the Right Hon. Sir J. G. Wabd (at London). Sib,- 134 Fleet Street, London E.C., Ist May, 1911. In 1897 1 wrote to the late Mr. R. J. Seddon with reference to the cost of postage on colonial newspapers when posted from the London offices to any part of the United Kingdom. I also spoke to you about the same matter when you were in London on a subsequent occasion. Our then Postmaster-General, however, would do nothing in the direction of reducing the cost of postage. We represent several important New Zealand papers in London. Copies of the papers are sent to us in bulk from New Zealand. Many of these have to be posted from this office separately to subscribers and others in the United Kingdom, the cost being from Id. to 4d. per copy, according to weight; whilst papers that are printed and published in the United Kingdom are delivered for Jd. per copy up to 5 lb. in weight. A colonial newspaper can be sent from New Zealand to the United Kingdom for Id. ; and, if it has not been opened, it may be readdressed, and, if posted within twenty-four hours after receipt, delivered to any other part of the United Kingdom free of charge. But while a colonial newspaper can be sent from New Zealand to the United Kingdom for Id. per copy, or a batch of, say, sixty copies for 55., nevertheless, on our sending those sixty copies to different persons, the cost is Id. for a 4 oz. paper, and 4d. per copy for a 16 oz. paper—i.e., £1 for the sixty copies. Yet for a paper published in the United Kingdom sixty copies of a 16 oz. paper would cost only 2s. 6d., or Jd. per copy. The Postal authorities here will not allow a newspaper to pass through the post as such unless it has been registered at the G.P.O. at an annual fee of 55., but they stipulate that "it must be printed and published in the United Kingdom. ,T Why newspapers published in our dominions are barred 1 do not know, but 1 submit that a colonial newspaper should not cost more for postage in the United Kingdom than other newspapers. Herewith I enclose a card which may be of use, as it shows the cost of postages on various New Zealand papers. I trust that during your stay in London you will have an opportunity of bringing the subject of this letter before the Postal authorities here, and that colonial newspapers may shortly be placed on the same level as to postage-rates as the papers published in the United Kingdom. I have, &c, R. B. Brett. The Right Hon. Sir J. G. Ward, K.C.M.G., Hotel Cecil, London W.C. [P.O. 11/3477.]

No. 17. The Right Hon. Sir 3. G. Ward to Mr. Brett. Sir, — Hotel Cecil, London, Bth May, 1911. 1 am in receipt of your letter of the Ist instant, on the subject of the reduction of postage on colonial newspapers when posted from the London offices to the different parts of the United Kingdom, and note your representations on the matter. The question is, of course, entirely one for the consideration of the British Government, but a reduction of the present rates, in order to bring them into line with those prevailing for papers published in the United Kingdom, has my entire sympathy and support. 1 shall be glad to bring the matter under the notice of the Postal authorities here. I have, &c, R. B. Brett, Esq., 134 Fleet Street, London E.C. J. G. Ward.

No. 18. Mr. S. Stkrtton, Droitwich, to the Right Hon. Sir J. G. Wakd (at London). Sir, — Hampton House, Droitwich [undated]. Having five sons in New Zealand resident from twenty to twenty-five years, I am much interested in postage matters. I have been precluded sending Graphic illustrated and similar sized papers owing to exorbitant postage, whereas my sons are constantly sending me Auckland and other pictorial papers equally weighty for a penny. I have written recently to our PostmasterGeneral on the subject, and only yesterday received his reply [not printed], which I now beg to enclose to you, thinking that in your position and interest in all matters pertaining to New Zealand's greatly improving condition under your guidance you may like to have a few words with our Postmaster-General on the subject. I also beg to enclose you a recently published souvenir of our noted town. With respectful compliments, I have, &c, S. Stretton, M.R.C.S., J. P., Co. Worcester. The Right Hon. Sir J. G, Ward, London, [P.O. 11/3476.] .

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No. 19. The Right Hon: Sir J. G. Ward to Mr. Stretton. Sir,— London, 13th May, 1911. I have to acknowledge the receipt of your letter, and to thank you for the enclosure from the Secretary to the General Post Office [not printed]. The question of postage on printed matter from England to New Zealand is one for the consideration of the British Government, but reduced rates on magazines, in order to bring them into line with those from New Zealand, have my entire sympathy and support. I will, as I have done in the past, urge this upon the Postal Union as opportunity offers from time to time. • **#*» I return the letter from the Secretary of the General Post Office herewith. I have, &c, S. Stretton, Esq., J. P., Hampton House, Droitwich. J. G. Ward. [P.O. 11/3476.] —_»____»«««_»»__«___

No. 20. The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington, to the Secretary, General Post Office, London. Sir,— General Post Office, Wellington, 6th September, 1911. I have the honour to refer to the letter to you of the 10th November, 1897 [next below], from the Agent-General for New Zealand in London, and to your reply of the 2nd December following, on the subject of the inland postage in the United Kingdom on newspapers published out of the Kingdom. The matter has again been raised by the representative in London of several important New Zealand newspapers. Copies of the papers are posted from the representatives London office to subscribers and others in the United Kingdom, and the postage, varying according to weight, is from Id. to 4d. per copy. This Department's regulations admit of newspapers published out of New Zealand being posted within the Dominion for inland transmission at the rate of £d. per newspaper. I should be glad if you would kindly give the matter reconsideration, with a view to allowing New Zealand newspapers registered at this office to be transmitted within the United Kingdom at the same rate as newspapers printed and published in the Kingdom. I have, &c, D. Robertson, for the Postmaster-General. The Secretary, General Post Office, London. [P.O. 11/3477.] _____™_™___™_

No. 21. The Agent-General for New Zealand to the Secretary, General Post Office, London. Sir,— 13 Victoria Street, London S.W., 10th November, 1897. I have the honour to bring under your notice, for the consideration of the PostmasterGeneral, a matter affecting the circulation in this country of newspapers published in New Zealand. Under present regulations newspapers published in the colony and posted in the United Kingdom are subject to a postage of more than double that charged for newspapers published in this country. As you are probably aware, newspapers published in the United Kingdom posted in New Zealand have extended to them by the New Zealand Post Office the privilege of the halfpenny post, and my Government have therefore instructed me to submit for the consideration of the Postmaster-General that the New Zealand newspapers be placed in this country on the same footing as regards postage as the newspapers published in the United Kingdom. It has also been represented to my Government that electrotypes or stereotypes might with advantage be allowed to be sent to New Zealand by book or pattern post, as the parcel-post is only available once a fortnight, and even then does not go by any of the quick routes. My Government desire me to say that if the Postmaster-General would agree to the proposal the New Zealand Post Office will offer no objection. I have, &c, The Secretary, General Post Office, London. W. P. Reeves

[P.O. 98/427.] No. 22. The Secretary, General Post Office, London, to the Agent-General for New Zealand. Sir, — General Post Office, London E.C., 2nd December, 1897. I have submitted to the Postmaster-General your letter of the 10th ultimo in which you ask that newspapers published in New Zealand may, when posted in the United Kingdom, be allowed the privilege of the halfpenny post. In reply, lam to point out that all such newspapers when not exceeding 2 oz. in weight are already entitled to pass for a postage of |d. With regard to the question of allowing New Zealand newspapers of greater weight when posted in the United Kingdom to circulate at the rate of postage charged in the case of English newspapers, I am to state that a similar suggestion has already been brought before the Postmaster-General, who, after careful consideration, felt that he could not favour the proposal. His Grace is not aware of the circumstances in which the New Zealand Government has thought well to adopt in regard to English newspapers the measure which the Government desires to see adopted here in regard to New Zealand newspapers; but it seems possible that the action of the colonial Government had in view the interests of readers in New Zealand rather than those of publishers in England, and the

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Postmaster-General knows of no demand on the part of the English public for the extension of inland rates to colonial and other newspapers printed abroad. If colonial papers were admitted to this privilege American and other foreign newspapers would certainly demand it; and the Postmaster-General desires me to point out further that the adoption of such an arrangement might have the effect of withdrawing revenue from the colonial Post Offices to this Department, by inducing the consignment of papers to England as freight to be posted at the inland rate of |d. per paper irrespective of weight. On the whole, His Grace does not think that the existing facilities in regard to newspapers really require extension. With respect to the other point mentioned in your letter, I am to state that, in the Duke of Norfolk's opinion, electrotypes and stereotypes which are appliances for printing cannot from any point of view be regarded as printed matter or as samples, and he regrets that in this case also he is unable to agree to your suggestion. I have, &c, The Agent-General for New Zealand. H. Buxtok Forman.

No. 23. The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington, to the Right Hon. the Postmaster-General, London. Sir,— General Post Office, Wellington, 24th October, 1911. Let me refer to my letter of the 15th August, 1907 [No. 2, F.-7, 1908], and to the reply received from your office of the 28th October of the same year [No. 7, F.-7, 1908], on the subject of the postage-rate for newspapers and periodicals from the United Kingdom to New Zealand. I venture to again bring the matter up in the hope that it will now be possible to extend to this Dominion the magazine rate extended to Canada, Id. per pound. Newspapers for the United Kingdom, if weighing over 8 oz., are accepted in this Dominion at the rate of Id. each for despatch by direct steamers only; and in suggesting for your favourable consideration the question of extending to New Zealand the rate of Id. per pound for newspapers, &c, weighing over 2 oz., I have in mind the despatch of such articles by direct steamers only. I very much hope to hear you now see your way to have New Zealand taken in on some such lines. I have, &c, The Right Hon. Herbert Samuel, Postmaster-General, London. J. G. Ward. [P.O. 11/3476.]

No. 24. The Secretary, General Post Office, London, to the Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington. gi R) General Post Office, London, 27th November, 1911. I am directed by the Postmaster-General to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 6th of September last, and to state that full consideration has again been given to your proposal that newspapers printed and published in New Zealand and registered at your office should be allowed to pass in the United Kingdom at the privileged rate of postage applicable to newspapers registered at this office. The inland newspaper post of this country, however, is carried on at a heavy loss to the revenue, and the Postmaster-General would not feel justified in sanctioning the additional loss which would result from the admitting to the privileged rate of postage newspapers published in the dominions. In these circumstances, he regrets that he does not see his way to adopt your proposal. I have, &c, The Hon. the Postmaster-General,"Wellington. E. Crabb. [P.O. 11/3477.]

No. 25. The Secretary, Postmaster-General's Department, Melbourne, to the Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. g ln> Postmaster-Gee -Is Department, Melbourne, 6th December, 1911. I have the honour to inform you that the Governor-General of the Commonwealth in Council has approved that the rate of postage on prin'ed papers transmitted from the Commonwealth of Australia to New Zealand, Fiji, "c - TT ebrides, and the British Solomon Islands be fixed at one halfpenny (id.) per two ounces ( ! oz.) or fraction thereof, with a minimum of one penny (Id.), the new arrangement to come into operation forthwith. I have, &c, Justinian Oxenham, Secretary. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. [P.O. 11/3457(1).]

2-F. 7.

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No. 26,

The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Secretary, Postmaster-General s Department, Melbourne. Sir, — General Post Office, Wellington, 19th December, 1911. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 6th instant, announcing that the rate of postage on printed papers from the Commonwealth to New Zealand, Fiji, New Hebrides, and the British Solomon Islands has been fixed at £d. per 2 oz. or fraction thereof, with a minimum of Id. This Department is gratified to learn of the reduction. I have, &c, D. Robertson, Secretary. The Secretary, Postmaster-General's Department, Melbourne.

No. 27. The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington, to Mr. R. B. Brett, London. Sir, — General Post Office, Wellington, 10th January, 1912. In continuation of my letter of the Bth May last, relating to the inland postage in the United Kingdom on newspapers published out of the Kingdom, I now beg to inform you that the London Post Office has again been urged to agree to New Zealand newspapers registered at this office being transmitted within the United Kingdom at the same rate as newspapers printed and published in the Kingdom, but I regret that the reply is unfavourable. It states that full consideration has again been given to the proposal, but that, as the inland newspaper post is carried on at a heavy loss to the revenue, the Postmaster-General would not feel justified in sanctioning the additional loss which would result from the admitting to the privileged rate of postage newspapers published in the dominions. I have, &c, R. B. Brett, Esq., 134 Fleet Street, London E.G. J. G. Ward. [P.O. 11/3477.]

Approximate Cost of Paper: Preparation not given, printing (1,560 copies), £6 15s.

Authority : John Mackay, Government Printer, Wellington.—l9l2.

Price 6d.]

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