147

A,-2

3. Supplementary Instructions. —The sender of a deferred telegram at reduced rates must insert before the address the supplementary instruction LC completed as is laid down in paragraph 4. This instruction is counted in the number of words charged for. 4. Form. —The text of deferred telegrams must be written entirely in plain language, and must not contain any figures, commercial marks, groups of letters, or signs of punctuation or abbreviated expressions (Article VII of International Regulations). Any telegram containing a succession of isolated letters, of numbers, of names, or of words without connected meaning, and, generally, any telegram which does not, in the opinion of the telegraph service, bear an intelligible meaning on the face of it, is not admitted to the benefit of the reduced rate. Registered addresses are accepted if accompanied by a text which makes their nature clear. Numbers must be written in words. Telegrams without text are not admitted. Telegrams at reduced rates must be written in French, or in one of the languages of the country of origin or destination, specified by the administrations ooncerned, and authorized for international telegraphic correspondence in plain language. According as the language employed is French, a language of the country of origin, or a language of the country of destination, the supplementary instruction LC is completed, and becomes LCF, LCO, or LCD. The use of two or more languages in the same telegram is not allowed. The wording of the address and the signature of these telegrams is governed by the rules in force for ordinary telegrams. 5. Counting of Words. —The words in the address, in the text, and in the signature are counted according to the rules in force for ordinary telegrams. Rates and Char yes. 6. Regime. —Deferred telegrams at reduced rates are admitted in the service between countries in the European regime and countries in the extra-European regime (including Senegal). As regards the service between countries in the extra-European regime (including Senegal), except by special arrangement to the contrary, deferred telegrams are only admitted if the charge for ordinary telegrams is not less than 1 franc per word. 7. Rates. —The terminal and land and submarine-cable transit-rates in the case of deferred telegrams are reduced uniformly by 50 per cent. When a deferred telegram is diverted in consequence of an interruption of route the rates, which are shared pro rata, are half those which would accrue to the different administrations for a telegram charged for at the full rate if it were similarly diverted. 8. Application of Full Ordinary Rate to Irregular Telegrams. —The telegraph administrations reserve the right to refuse at the reduced rate any .telegram which in their opinion is not in accordance with the foregoing conditions. When the delivery office observes that a telegram bearing one of the supplementary instructions LCF or LCD does not comply with these conditions the telegram is treated in the same way as one containing irregular combinations. 9. Order of Transmission. —Deferred telegrams are only transmitted after non-urgent private telegrams and Press telegrams. Those which have not reached their destination within a period of twenty-four hours from the time of handing in are transmitted in turn with telegrams charged for at the full rate. 10. Delivery. —Telegrams at reduced rates are delivered in turn with telegrams at full rates. 11. Special Services. —Telegrams at reduced rates may bear any of the supplemental-}' instructions except that relating to urgency. The rates applicable to the various special services desired by the sender of a deferred telegram (paid service telegrams conditions of delivery, it.P.T.C, &c.) are the same as in the case of ordinary telegrams. The corresponding supplementary instructions are charged for at the reduced rate. Telegraph money-orders and marine telegrams are not admitted at the reduced rate. 12. Reimbursement. —The period for reimbursement on account of delay in the case of a deferred telegram is in every case fixed at three times twenty-four hours. 13. Accounts. —The accounts are drawn up in accordance with the conditions set forth in Article LXXVI of the International Regulations, each word in a deferred telegram being counted as half a word. 14. General Condi/ions. —Telegrams at reduced rates are subject to all the conditions of the International Regulations which do not conflict with the foregoing conditions.

No. 134. New Zealand, No. 398. My Lord, — Downing Street, Bth December, 1911. With reference to my despatch, No. 396, of the 7th of December, 1 have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, the accompanying copy of a statement made by the Postmaster-General in the House of Commons on the sth of December with regard to reductions in telegraph rates. I have, &c, L. HARCOURT. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c.