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No. 36.— Reduction of Commission on Money Orders to United Kingdom. The London Office wrote suggesting a reduction of Australian Rates on Money Orders to the (United Kingdom. The rates in Great Britain and the Colonies are as follows : — Rates charged in United Kingdom. INLAND MONEY ORDERS. For sums not over £1 £2. £4. £7 £10. the charge is Id. 3d. Ad. bd. 6d. FOREIGN MONEY ORDERS. For sums not over £2. £5. £7 £10. the charge is. 6d. Is. Is. 6d. 2s.

The Rates of Commission charged in the various Colonies on Money Orders issued on the United Kingdom are as follows:—

We are of opinion that although our rates are somewhat high, the present is not an opportune time for making any reduction. No. 37. — Telegraph Money Order Regulations. It appears that since the Conference at Wellington, at which it was decided that each ■Colony should adopt within its own territory such rules as it might deem fit for its own and the public protection, and that the result of the working be reported to the next Conference, we find that no fresh rules have been prepared by any of the Administrations, although some have been drafted and suggestions made by New South Wales and Victoria, the result of the working of which will be reported in due course. No. 38.— Issue of Duplicate Money Orders. A case having been brought under notice in which Orders were fraudulently negotiated after the issue of duplicates, it was decided the matter receive consideration when fresh regulations for the guidance of Postmasters are framed. No. 39.— Universal Postage Stamp : Federal Postage Stamp. The question of a universal or international postage stamp having been brought before the Vienna Congress by the Administration of Luxemburg, the Berne Bureau has asked the opinion of the other Administrations of the Union on the matter, and has been informed in reply that it would be considered at the Conference at Hobart, unanimity being desirable among the Colonies. The Berne Bureau has furnished a great many opinions gleaned from other countries, most of which are adverse to the proposal at present, and the Director of the Bureau himself sums the matter up as follows:— " I consider that under present conditions, and especially with regard to the diversity of currencies, the difficulties in the way of the creation of a universal postage stamp are too considerable to admit of the introduction •of this innovation." We entirely concur in the above opinion. With regard to a "Federal" Stamp, we are of opinion that it is undesirable at present to adopt a Federal Stamp for Australasia. No. 40. — Marking Stamps, " Specimen." Under the Vienna Convention each Administration belonging to the Postal Union has to forward to the Berne Bureau, for distribution among the other Administrations, five specimens of its postage stamps (including, of course, stamped envelopes, newspaper wrappers, postcards, &c), the number required being 730 of every kind, i.e., a quintuple set for each of 146 Administrations. In return, the Departments receive through the Bureau a supply of specimens from all the other Administrations. It is a vexed question whether the stamps sent from Australasia should be or bear the word "specimen."

Colony To £2. To £5. To £7. To £10. South Australia and West Australia Victoria, New South Wales, and Tasmania. Is. Is. 2.9. 2s. Qd. 3.s. 3.s. 6d. 5s. To £2. To £4. To £6. To £8. To £10. Queensland and New Zealand Iβ. 2s. 3*. 4s. 5x.