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No. 30.— Parcel Post Rates with United Kingdom — Reduction of. We recommend that as soon as arrangements are concluded with the P. & 0 and Orient Companies to discontinue to make any special charge for the Parcel Post portion of the Mails, the rates be reduced as suggested by London from Is. 6d. for the first 2 lbs. or fraction, and 9d. for each succeeding lb. or fraction, to Is. for the first lb., and 6c?. for each additional lb. No. 31.— Parcel Post Convention with Italy — London's offer. The London office wrote on October 9, 1894, intimating that it would probably negotiate with the Italian Post Office for a Convention with a view to the establishment of a direct Parcel Post between Italy and Australia similar to the Draft Convention prepared by the French Post Office. We see no objection to such a Convention, subject to the alterations suggested in the Draft Convention submitted by the French Post Office. [See No. 34.] No. 32.— Parcel Post Convention with Malta. We recommend the Parcel Post System be established with Malta, but cannot agree to each country retaining its own receipts, as experience shows that we receive a much larger number of parcels from abroad than are despatched, and therefore the usual princijsle of dividing the postage should be adhered to. The rates and division of postage to be the same as with Gibraltar, asfollows: — For the first 2 lbs. .... Is. 6d. For every additional lb. .. . ... 9d. Division :— Credit of Colony. 9d. first two lbs., each additional lb. Sea .. Ad. „ 2d. Gibraltar . sc?. „ 2%d. ~ )s. 6d. 96?. No. 33.— Parcel Post Convention with Canada. It is recommended that a direct exchange between the Colonies and Canada be established,, the rates of postage to be uniform in all the Colonies, either \s. 2d. or \s. 3d. per lb. as Canada may advise, the JNew South Wales share to be sd. per lb. on first lb. and 4rf. on each additional lb. on parcels sent loose in Mails from other Colonies, but if sent in closed Mails, the New South Wales share to be Id. per lb. for territorial transit and 2d. per lb. for sea rate. 34. Parcel Post Convention with France. In July last the London Post Office informed the Colonies that the French Post Office desired a direct exchange of parcels between France and Australia by the French Mail Steamers (Messageries Maritimes), and, the proposal having been approved of by the Home Authorities, forwarded a draft Convention and Regulations for consideration of the Colonies. W T e have considered the Draft submitted, and recommend that its provisions bs agreed to, but that the following suggestions be made :— Article 6. That no fee for porterage and for the execution of Customs formalities be collected in the Colonies from the addressees of parcels from France. Article 14. That the introduction of the system of acknowledgments of delivery of parcels remain in abeyance until the system be adopted generally Regulation 2. That the postage progress pound by pound, instead of in steps of 2 lbs., 7 lbs., and 11 lbs., as more consistent with the Colonial and English practice. Regulation 6-3. That the Customs declaration forms be drawn up in the English language,. and bear a snblineary translation in French, as is done with Postal Union forms. Regulation 8-3. That the provision that mails " be landed as far as possible at the Custom House " be omitted as unnecessary, as Customs work is done at the Post Offices. That it be provided that the cost of receptacles be shared equally between the countries of exchange. Regulation 12. That in lieu of this a simple regulation providing for the preparation of a quarterly account, and for the payment of the balance due as early as possible after the same has been ascertained, be substituted. No. 35. — Redirection of Parcel Post Packets. With reference to a letter from the Calcutta Post Office of 7th August, 1894, on the subject of Redirection of Parcels, we recommend that the Colonies agree to the substitution of Article 14 of the Union Convention which provides for payment being made in all cases of redirection of parcels to other Postal Administrations, or of their return (owing to non-delivery) to the office of origin, in lieu of Article 2 of the existing arrangement between the two countries.