F.—7

Session 11. 1912. NEW ZEALAND

UNIVERSAL PENNY POSTAGE (FURTHER PAPERS RELATIVE TO). [In continuation of F.-7, presented on the 10th October, 1911.]

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

I N D E X. No. Page Agreement governing postal rates with French Oceania .. .. .. 10 S- 4 Australia: reduced postage on printed papers .. , . . . .. 25, 26 9," 10 Brunei, State of, included in Imperial penny postage . . .. .. 5 £ 3 Electrotypes, transmission of, by book or pattern post . . . . .. 21, 22 st[B French Oceania: agreement governing postal rates .. .. . . 10 fi „ negotiations for establishment of penny post .. .. 1, 3, 4, 6-10, 12-15 1-6 Imperial Conference: resolution regarding postal rates ...... 2 1 Magazines from United Kingdom to New Zealand .. .. .. 19, 23 8, 9 Newspapers, colonial, inland rate of postage on, in United Kiigdom .. 16, 17, 20-22, 24, 27 7, 8, 10 „ >m weighty, from United Kingdom to New Zealand .. .. 18, 19, 23 7, 8, 9 Periodicals" from United Kingdom to New Zealand .. .. .. 23 9 Printed papers from United Kingdom to New Zealand .. .. .. 19 8 - W,7 m> *■ > reduced postage on, from Australia .. .. .. 25, 26 9, 10 Southern Rhodesia: proposed introduction of penny post .. .. 11 5 Stereotypes by book or pattern post .. .. .. .. .. 21, 22 8

No. 1. The Right Hon. the Secretary op State for the Colonies to His Excellency the Governor. My Lord, — Downing Street, 18th July, 1911. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch, No. 64, of the 18th May [not printed], on the subject of the postage-rate between New Zealand and French Oceania. 2. In reply, I have to request that you will inform your Ministers that while in this country Sir Joseph Ward suggested that, pending the completion of diplomatic negotiations, arrangements could be made by which letters from New Zealand could be sent at the reduced rate, with effect from the date of the Coronation. The French Government was approached on this subject, but found themselves unable to accept the proposal, and I have accordingly now requested the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to ask them to accept the agreement of which a draft accompanied your despatch under reference. 3. I shall inform you in due course of the views of the French Government on this matter. I have, &c, L. Harcourt. Governor the Right Hon. Lord Islington, K.C.M.G., D.5.0., &c. P.O. 10/981(1).]

No. 2. The Right Hon. the Secretary op State for the Colonies to His Excellency the Governor. My Lord, — Downing Street, 28th July, 1911. With reference to my despatch of the 24th of February [not printed], I have the honour to transmit to you, for the information of your Ministers, copy of a resolution passed by the Imperial Conference in favour of further reductions in postal rates [see No. 11, F.-7, 1911].

I—F. 7,