PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :--
C.O. 885
5 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-
COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
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No. 25.
REDUCTION OF TRANSIT CHARGES VIA ITALY.
COLONIAL OFFICE MEMORANDUM and CORRESPONDENCE.
4
The opinion of Australasian Members of the Conference upon the annexed letter is desired, and it is hoped that they will state whether they are in a position to undertake that the proposed reduction will be agreed to by their respective Colonies so as to enable Her Majesty's Government to complete the negotiations with the Italian Government.
Colonial Office,
SIR,
March 1887.
General Post Office, London, March 18, 1887.
I DULY received your letter of the 20th of December last, enclosing copy of a telegram from the Governor of Victoria communicating to the Secretary of State the resolutions come to at a meeting of Ministers representing the Colonies of New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia, on the question of postal communication with Europe.
On the main question of the tenders for the conveyance of mails after the expiration of existing contracts, negotiations have been opened with the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company, and the Orient Steam Navigation Company, as suggested, but no result has yet been arrived at.
On the question of foreign transit rates the Postmaster General desires me to state, for the information of Sir Henry Holland, that he will do all in his power to obtain a reduction both in the charge for the accelerated train service through France and Italy, and in the charge made by the Italian Post Office for letters from Australia sent in transit to the Continent of Europe by the route of Brindisi.
As regards the latter point, the Postmaster General has already placed himself in communication with the Italian Postal Administration, and I enclose a copy of a letter on the subject addressed by this Department to the Italian Post Office on the 11th of last month, and a copy of the reply which has been received, from which it will be seen that the Italian Post Office quite recognizes the necessity for making a reduction of postage on the correspondence in question, but expects a reciprocal reduction on the part of the Australian Colonies.
Before proceeding further in this matter, Sir Henry Holland will probably consider it necessary to consult the Colonies, and to ascertain from them what reply they would wish made to the Director General of the Italian Post Office on the point raised in his letter as to the reciprocal reduction which those Colonies are prepared to make in their charges on letters for Australia prepaid in Italy and the Continent of Europe.
Under present arrangements, the Australian. Colonies receive from Italy, on the letters referred to, the following rates, namely
15 centimes per single rate (land rate),
1 franc 20 centimes per 30 grammes weight (sea-transit rate)
(which, it is estimated, amounts to a charge of about 6d. per letter), and it is thought that these rates may be susceptible of some reduction in favour of Italy and the other European States, in return for the sacrifice demanded from the Italian Post Office.
I am, &c.
The Under Secretary of State
(Signed)
S. A. BLACKWOOD.
61
(b) For letters addressed to other states of the Continent via Italy 30 centimes per
1 oz. rate; with double the above rates, in each case, for unpaid letters sent from Italy or the States of the Continent, via Italy, to the Australian Colonies or New Zealand.
These rates of accounting have governed the exchange of mails between Italy and Australia from the 1st of January 1876 to the present time. notwithstanding the reduction of postage rates which has prevailed almost universally during the past 11 years; and the Australasian Post Offices, having had the question under their con- sideration, think that the time has arrived when a modification of these rates may reasonably be looked for.
ounce;
The Colonies are anxious to be in a position to lower their charge to the public in Australia for letters to Italy, and through Italy to an uniform rate of 6d. the half but they cannot do so without a reduction of the present Italian territorial rates, and they have accordingly requested the Postmaster General to use his good offices with the Italian Post Office in endeavouring to obtain such a reduction as may enable the Colonies to fix no higher charge than 6d. for a single letter to Italy itself, or to the countries served through the medium of the Italian Post Office.
The Postmaster General gladly avails himself of the opportunity to commend this proposal to you for your favourable consideration.
The Director General of Posts, Rome.
Enclosure 2.
I have, &c. (Signed)
DIRECTION GÉNÉRALE DES POSTES D'ITALIE.
MONSIEUR LE DIRECTEUR GÉNÉRAL,
Rome, le 1 Mars 1887. PAR votre note du 11 du mois dernier, No. 49,650, vous avez bien voulu me demander au nom des Colonies Britanniques de l'Australie et de la Nouvelle Zélande si mon Administration serait disposée de réduire les taxes de bonification établies par l'entente en vigueur entre nos deux offices dépuis l'année 1876 à l'égarde des lettres affranchies de l'Australie pour l'Italie et pour le continent européen (voie d'Italie) et pour les lettres non affranchies de l'Italie et du continent européen pour l'Australie.
J'ai l'honneur de vous informer que je partage votre opinion et qu'une réduction des taxes est nécessaire de manière qu'elles puissent être profitables non seulement au public Australien mais aussi au public du continent européen.
La réduction devrait par suite s'étendre aux lettres affranchies de l'Italie et du con- tinent européen pour l'Australie et aux lettres non affranchies de l'Australie pour l'Italie et pour le continent européen.
Veuillez, Monsieur le Directeur Général, me faire connaître vos intentions à ce sujet et me soumetre en même temps un projet de remaniement général des taxes de bonifi- cation on vous assurant que pour ma part je suis disposé de douner mon adhésion à toute proposition qui aura pour base des réductions réciproques favorables au public australien aussi bien qu'au public de l'Italie et du continent européen.
Direction Générale des Postes, Londres.
No. 26.
En attendant, &c. (Signed) M. TAUTESIO,
Le Directeur Général.
SIB,
for the Colonies.
Enclosure 1.
General Post Office, London, February 11, 1887.
You are aware that, under arrangements made between this Department and the Italian Post Office in 1875, the territorial rates of postage agreed to be accounted for to Italy upon paid letters sent from the Australian Colonies or New Zealand to Italy, and the Continent of Europe were-
(a.) For letters addressed to Italy 15 centimes per † oz. rate.
IMPERIAL PENNY POSTAGE.
COLONIAL OFFice MemorandDUM and LETTERS from Mr. HENNIKER HEATON, M.P., to the POSTMASTer-General, with Reply.
Imperial intercommunication was named by Mr. Stanhope as one of the two very important questions which he desired to lay before the Conference. The following state- ment has accordingly been prepared showing the different lines of mail communication to which the Imperial and Colonial Governments now contribute from their public revenues, as well as the actual cost to the Imperial Government in 1885-6, after deducting all receipts in respect of the sea service of each line, amounting in all to 292,0541. per annum. A statement is annexed giving, as far as known, the expense
A 51481.
M