F.—3.

No. 45. The Hon. the Postmaster-Genebal, Wellington, to the Director-General of Posts, Berne. Sir,— General Post Office, Wellington, Bth September, 1900. I have the honour to confirm my telegram of the 18tli ultimo, advising that New Zealand would introduce universal penny postage on the Ist January next. No doubt the Director of the International Office will communicate with you in regard to the completion of any necessary arrangements, but it gave to me much pleasure to convey to you the earliest possible intimation of the intentions of this colony. I have, &c, W. Ghat, The Director-General of Swiss Posts, Berne. For the Postmaster-General.

No. 46. The Postmasteb-Genebal, Cape Town, to the Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington. Sir, — General Post Office, Cape Town, Bth September, 1900. T have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your cablegram of the 17th ultimo on the subject of the adoption of Imperial penny postage by New Zealand, and to confirm my cablegram of the 23rd idem, of which a copy is enclosed. I may say that this Department heartily welcomes the adhesion of New Zealand, and trusts that before long the whole of the Australasian Colonies may be able to adopt the lower rate. The Cape Colony takes an especial interest in the question of ocean penny postage, and, as you are doubtless aware, was instrumental in securing the adoption of the penny rate between British possessions as a preferable arrangement to the higher rate of 2d. advocated by the Imperial authorities. I have, &c, The Postmaster-General, Wellington. S. E. French, Postmaster-General.

No. 47. The Undeb- Secretary and Superintendent of Telegraphs, Brisbane, to the Hon the Postmaster-Geneeal, Wellington. Sir, — Post and Telegraph Department, Brisbane, Bth September, 1900. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of the 29th ultimo, in further reference to the introduction of universal penny postage in your colony, and to the suggested adoption of the system by the Australasian Colonies. In reply, the Postmaster-General directs me to say it is considered that the question of so large a reduction of postage must affect the financial position of the Federal Government, and it is therefore a matter to be dealt with by the Federal Cabinet and Parliament, and could not be departmentally decided. The position of New Zealand as regards area, contiguity to the sea, and population, is not at all analogous to that of Australia, where the land services are necessarily long and expensive, and where the comparatively small population is scattered over a very large extent of country. I have, &c, Eobert. T. Scott, Under-Secretary and Superintendent of Telegraphs. The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington.

No. 48. The Hon. the Postmaster-Geneeal, Melbourne, to the Hon. the Postmastee-Geneeal, Wellington. Sib, — General Post Office, Melbourne, 11th September, 1900. I have the honour to acknowledge your communication of the 29th ultimo, and to confirm my telegraphic congratulations of the 23rd idem upon the introduction of penny post decided upon by your Government. The question of a uniform penny postal rate within the Australian Commonwealth will undoubtedly be considered at the Conferences which are to take place before the Postal Departments of the federating States are amalgamated, but of course it would be premature to predict as to the shape the recommendation will assume. In the meantime the matter is receiving the attention of the Victorian Government, and I hope to be able to announce our decision in a few weeks at latest. I have, &c, W. A. Watt, Postmaster-General. The Hon. J. G. Ward, Postmaster-General, Wellington.

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