40

Canadian Postage Rater. The President reported that he had received a telegram from the Postmaster-General of Canada in reply to a Telegram forwarded from the Conference. Ordered to be considered at a later hour. Report of Sub-Committee. The Conference further considered the Report of the Sub-Committee of Permanent Heads of Departments on questions submitted to them. No. 18. —" Grocers' Price Lists, Postage on." Two articles were submitted by South Australia with a view to obtaining an opinion generally as to whether those and publications of a like character should be considered as newspapers. We are of opinion that one of the articles is inadmissible as a newspaper, but only for the reason that it is not fully dated as the Regulations require, and that the second one is entitled to pass as a newspaper. Agreed to.. No. 33.—"Postage on certain class of Publication." A publication is submitted by South Australia with a view to conferring as to whether publications of that class should be treated as packets or books. We are of opinion that, not being published in book form, they should be charged at Packet rate of postage. Agreed to. Question put, and passed— " That the Report of the Sub-Committee of Permanent Heads of Departments, as amended, be now approved." Postal and Telegraphic Rates. Hon. J. G. Jenkins moved, — " That this Conference recommends to the Governments of Australasia that no alteration in International Postal or Telegraphic Rates be made without the Colony proposing to make such alterations advising the other Colonies and endeavouring to arrange for uniformity of action." Hon. John Gavan Duffy seconded. Carried. Canadian Postage Rates. The following Telegrams were read : — Hobart, lsi April, 1898. The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Ottawa, Canada. I am directed by the Australian Postal Conference, sitting at Hobart, to enquire if it is intended to carry out the proposed reduction of postage from 5 cents to 3 cents, and to inform you of the objection of Australia to concur in the proposition. P. O. FYSH, Chairman.

Reply. Ottawa, 2nd April, 1898. Hon. P. O. Fysh, Chairman. Postal Conference, Hobart. Canada would welcome Inter-imperial uniform reduced preferential postal rates, but if that plan not approved of, hopes she may be allowed at her own expense to reduce her outgoing letter rate to all parts of Empire, conceding like freedom of action to all other portions of Empire. Having regard to Canada's geographical and commercial position, existing postal rates constitute serious grievance. Meantime Canada has suspended all action pending approaching Postal Conference at London. WILLIAM MULLOCH, Postmaster-General. Hon. John Gavan Duffy moved, — "That the Conference go into Committee of the whole, to consider the Telegram from the Hon. Postmaster-General of Canada." Hon. J. R. Dickson seconded. Carried. The Conference went into Committee accordingly. After some time spent therein ; The Conference resumed, and the President reported the following Resolution : — "That the various Agents-General, Delegates to the Postal Conference in London, be instructed to oppose the proposal to reduce the rate of postage to all parts of the British