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Enclosure in No. 160. Questions submitted to Hon. Postmaster-General by Hon. John Duthie, H.L.C., Wellington. (1.) Whether arrangements will be made so that when the steamer with the mails for London fails to make connection at Sydney information will be promptly given by the Postal Department to the. New Zealand Press, thereby enabling the importers incommoded to cable their correspondents. (2.) Whether the Department will arrange to have the arrival of all mail-steamers from New Zealand, at either Vancouver or San Francisco, cabled and posted at Lloyd's, as also the later despatch of these mails from an Atlantic port. The present lack of this information, which is afforded by the Suez route, greatly detracts from the value to trade of these Pacific services. [Suez Conn. 13/102.]

No. 161. The Hon. the Prime Minister to the High Commissioner. Sir, — Prime Minister's Office, Wellington, Ist August, 1913. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your memorandum of the 9th June last, forwarding copy of a letter from the New Zealand Agents' Association, London, on the subject of the irregular arrival in London of mails from New Zealand. My letter of the 15th ultimo explains the circumstances to which were due late arrivals in London of mails despatched from the Dominion in April last. I have, &c, R. Heaton Rhodes, The High Commissioner' for New Zealand, London. For the Prime Minister & T. 37/43.]

No. 162. The Hon. the Postmaster-Genebal, Wellington, to the Hon. John Duthib, M.L.C., Wellington. Sir, — Postmaster-General's Office, Wellington, 6th August, 1913. 1 have the honour to refer to your letter of the 29th ultimo, inquiring whether arrangements will be made so that when the mails for the United Kingdom despatched by way of Suez miss the connection in Australia the Department will promptly inform the New Zealand Press; also whether arrangements will be made to have the arrival of the New Zealand mails at Vancouver and San Francisco, and their despatch from an Atlantic port, reported by cable to London, and the information posted at Lloyd's. Arrangements have been in operation for a long time past whereby the Sydney Post Office informs the General Post Office, Wellington, when the steamer from Wellington carrying mails for London fails to make the connection at Sydney. Ihe information, on receipt, is promptly distributed to the Press, as well as announced at post offices. The arrival of New Zealand mails in London is already reported to the General Post Office, Wellington, and the information is published. The arrival of the Pacific steamer is telegraphed from Vancouver and San Francisco, and the news is published here. So far as is> known, the London Post Office receives no advice of the despatch of the mail-steamer from New York; so long ago as 1896 it saw no need for having the information cabled. But the matter will be taken in hand again, and it will be ascertained particularly what notices are received in London. It is to be assumed that if Lloyd's required the information it would arrange for obtaining it. I have, &c, R. Heaton Rhodes, Postmaster-General. The Hon. John Duthie, M.L.C., Parliament Buildings, Wellington. [Suez Conn. 13/110-111.]

No. 163. The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington, to the Secretary, General Post Office, London. Sir, — General Post Office, Wellington, 13th August, 1913. I have the honour to inform you that this Department has been asked to arrange that the arrival of New Zealand — United Kingdom mails at Vancouver and at San Francisco and their despatch from an Atlantic port be reported by cable to London, and the information posted at Lloyd's. This Department is not aware whether your office now receives advice of the arrival of New Zealand mails at Vancouver and at San Francisco, and of their despatch across the Atlantic, and it will be glad to learn whether any of such advices are received, and, if so, whether Lloyd's is notified. If not, could the information be obtained and posted as desired? I refer to your letter of the 18th February, 1896 [not printed], to the Agent-General for New Zealand, in London, in which you stated that there was then no necessity to obtain reports of the despatch from New York. I have, &c, W. R, Morris, The Secretary, General Post Office, London. For the Postmaster-General. lSuez^Conn.U3/116.]