F.—7

1911. N X W ZEALAND.

UNIVERSAL PENNY POSTAGE (FURTHER PAPERS RELATIVE TO). [In continuation of F.-7, presented on the 28th September, 1910.]

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

INDEX.

No. Page. Australia : Reduction in postage .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 3, 4, 7 2, 3 French Oceania: Proposed reduction of postage with New Zealand .. .. .. 1,2,5,8,10,12 1-4 Imperial Conference: Motion by Sir J. G. Ward .. .. .. .. .. n <j, Rhodeeia joins Imperial penny-postage scheme .. .. .. .. .. 6, 9 Ii

No. 1. The Right Hon. the Secretary of State for the Colonies to His Excellency the Governor. My Lord, — Downing Street, 7th July, 1910. I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, papers on the subject of the rates of postage between New Zealand and French Oceania. I have, <fee, The Officer administering the Government of New Zealand. Crewe. P.O. 10/981(1).]

Enclosure 1 in No. 1. The Secretary, General Post Office, London, to the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies. Sir,— General Post Office. London 29th June, 1910. With reference to your letter of the 19th of la,st month [not printed], forwarding a copy of a despatch from the Governor of the Dominion of New Zealand [No. 63, Al, 1910]. and of correspondence exchanged in 1903 -4 between His Majesty's Ambassador at Paris and the French Government, concerning the proposed reduction of the rate of postage on letters sent between New Zealand and the French settlements of Oceania, I am directed to acquaint you, for the information of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, that the Postmaster-General sees no objection to the renewal of the negotiations with the French Government on this subject. According to a recent announcement by the International Bureau of the Universal Postal Union the rates of postage charged on letters exchanged between France and the French colonies, including the French settlements of Oceania, have now been reduced to 10 centimes for letters weighing not more than 20 grammes, 15 centimes for letters exceeding 20 grammes but not exceeding 50 grammes in weight, and 5 centimes for every 50 grammes or fraction thereof for letters exceeding 50 grammes in weight. In these circumstances the French Government may perhaps now be willing to reduce the rates of postage on letters from the settlements in Oceania to New Zealand. I am, &c. The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office. Matthew Nathan.