POSTAL AND TELEGRAPH CONFERENCE, 1898.

REPORT OF THE DELEGATES TO THE INTERCOLONIAL POSTAL AND TELEGRAPHIC CONFERENCE HELD IN HOBART DURING MARCH AND APRIL, 1898.

President: The Hon. Sir Philip Fysii, K.C.M.G., M.H.A., of Tasmania.

I. The following Colonies were represented :—New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Queensland, and Tasmania. 11. The Conference sat on the 28th, 29th, 30th, and 31st March, and Ist, 2nd, and 4th April. The following were the principal Resolutions adopted ; viz. : — Relating to Postal Service. 1. That in the opinion of this Conference it would be inadvisable to make any further reduction of the over-sea. postage rate until the way is clear for a reduction in the present large subsidies paid for the carriage of such mails, and the present inland and intercolonial rates. 2. That this Conference is of opinion that the word " specimen " be placed across all stamps issued to collectors. That all Postage Stamps issued to the Berne Postal Bureau or between Post Offices shall bear an obliteration with the date-stamp. 3. That an inset or a hand-bill should not be regarded as coming within the definition of a Newspaper Supplement under the Post Office Acts. 4. That representations be made from this Conference to the Post Office authorities at Queensland, pointing out that the high rates charged on newspapers coming from other Colonies is an unjustifiable restriction on the Australian.press. 5. That this Conference hereby records its appreciation of the zealous and able manner in which the Hon. J. Gavan Duffy, Postmaster-General of Victoria, discharged the duty of representing Australasia at the Washington Postal Convention.