30

France proposes to add as follows : — " To indicate, by writing, at the head of passages cut from newspapers or other publications, the title, date, and address of the newspaper from which the article is extracted." We recommend that the Russian proposal be accepted. (j) Article 9 of Convention, and 30 of Regulations, re correction of address — With regard to Article 9 of Postal Union Convention, and 30 of Regulations, the question of withdrawal, etc., of correspondence was considered at the Hobart Conference in 1892, when the decision arrived at by the heads of departments, viz., That the present practice under which a letter can be returned to the sender by warrant of the Governor or Minister, as the case may be, answers every purpose, was confirmed. We recommend that the Berne Bureau be informed in reply to letter of 25th June, 1892, that in every case in which a Union office prefers a request for the return of a letter or the alteration of an address the necessary authority of the Governor or the Minister, as the case may be, will be obtained. The request should be made to the Central office. (&) Commercial papers, articles grouped together — \ , 7 s c , . , , ~ r, ~ I We have no recommendation to make under (/) Surtaxes—Act sof Convention— V ~ -. i (ni) Re simplification of general statistics — J (n) Re England to continue to pay for actual weight instead of according to statistics — We recommend that the London Post Office should be asked to continue to settle, so far as the Australian transit rates are concerned, on the actual weight instead of statistics — the settlement being made every three months. (o) German proposal re Tientsin (Article 38 of Regulations)— The German Office proposes the following alteration of Clause 1 of Regulation 38:—"The German post offices established at Apia (Samoan Islands), Shanghai, and Tientsin (China), as subordinate to the postal administration of Germany." We recommend that this proposition be agreed to. Note. —In connection with Postal Union Questions, we desire to add that in view of a letter received from the Berne Office it is necessary for the colonies to extend the limit of weight generally on packets of samples from 8 oz. to 10 oz., except when higher limit exists by mutual arrangement, and on packets of commercial and printed papers, from 4 lb. to 5 lb. 8. India, Limit of Size, &c, Book Packets and Sample Packets. We propose to agree to exchange with India packets of commercial and printed papers up to 5 lb. and samples up to 12 oz. 9. Indemnity for Loss of Registered Letters. We propose that the recommendation of the Hobart Conference be adhered to as regards declining to adopt the provisions of the Convention, and providing for a responsibility to the extent of £2 on the loss of a registered article. The Queensland Act, however, provides for this indemnity. 10. Acknowledgment of Receipt. (a) Procedure, if not paid for— We recommend that persons making inquiry as regards the delivery of registered letters should be called on to pay the fee of 2id., provided for the acknowledgment of receipt, such fee to be refunded in the case of any delay in delivery being attributable to the Post Office. (b) The General Post Office of each Colony to act as intermediary for transmission of acknowledgment of receipts — We recommend that the General Post Office of each Colony, or the office of exchauge, be the intermediary for the acknowledgment of receipts. (c) Suggestion by France —That details bo given by the office of origin, &c. — We recommend that the old system, in force prior to the Vienna Convention, under which the form of acknowledgment of receipt was filled up by tho office of despatch, should be reverted to. 11. Intercolonial Convention (Draft). We recommend that the further revision of the draft Intercolonial Convention be postponed until the postal laws of all the colonies permit of its being adopted; but we would point out that this Convention —which was, in the first instance, agreed to several years since—has remained in abeyance owing to want of legislation on the part of some of the colonies ; and we would urge that no further avoidable delay should take place in procuring the necessary amendment of the law where required, so as to bring into force a measure which will be productive of great public convenience. 12. Parcel Post. (a) Transit Rates (sea) — It was agreed at the Hobart Conference of 1892 that communication be opened with the steamship companies for a reduction to Id. per lb. or less. The