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International Telegraph and Telephone Conference, Paris, May to August, 1949 This conference revised the World Telegraph and Telephone Regulations enacted at Cairo in 1938. The New Zealand delegation was led by Mr. H. W. Curtis, Second Deputy Director-General, who was assisted by Messrs F. C. Gentry and T. N. Morrison, of the General Post Office staff. The Conference made some outstanding changes to the International Telegraph Regulations, notably in respect of the method of charging for international telegrams and the number of categories of messages available to the public. The new regulations come into force on the Ist July, 1950, the more important of the changes being as follows : (a) Telegrams written in either plain language or secret language (code and cipher) will be charged for at a unified rate which, unless special arrangements apply, will be 75 per cent, of the ordinary rate existing on the Ist February, 1950, and there will be a five-word minimum charge for these telegrams. The special reduced rate for code telegrams (CDE) will be abolished. (b) The service of deferred telegrams (LC) will be abolished. (c) The rate per word for letter-telegrams will be half of the new unified rate, and an improved delivery service will be provided. The one-third limitation regarding numbers written in figures, abbreviated expressions, commercial marks, &c., will be removed, and the minimum number of chargeable words will be reduced from twenty-five to twenty-two. (d) The rules for the counting of words have been simplified, the main change being in the counting of plain-language words in what are now known as " mixed " telegrams —i.e., those containing plain-language words and code words. Plain-language words will be counted at the rate of fifteen letters to the word instead of five letters to the word as previously. From the Ist July, 1950, there will be only two categories of overseas telegrams—viz., " ordinary " and " letter." Urgent telegrams at double the new ordinary rate will still be available by special arrangement with countries which agree to this optional service. United States of America and British Commonwealth Telecommunications Conference, London, August, 1949 This Conference at which New Zealand was represented by Messrs H. W. Curtis (already overseas attending the Paris conference) and J. G. Young, New Zealand representative on the Commonwealth Telecommunications Board, London, was held at the request of the United States Government for the purpose of revising the telecommunication agreement reached between the Governments concerned, at Bermuda in 1945. The revised agreement, which was approved in February, 1950, clarified the position in respect of direct wireless circuits, and to meet United States requirements provided for increased ceiling-rates for telegrams exchanged between the United States of America and Commonwealth points. International Administrative Aeronautical Radio Conference (Second Session), Geneva, August to October, 1949 The New Zealand representatives were Messrs G. Searle (Post Office) and F. W Andrews (Air Department). The Conference was successful in preparing a world plan covering the use of frequencies and the general conduct of radio communication in the Aeronautical Mobile Service.

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