524
128
2. For the same reason, accounting for the transmission of mails passing between the component units of Malaya would no longer be governed by the Postal Union Convention, and would become a purely domestic matter. It may be mentioned that for the year 1931 the Straits Settlements collected about 100,000 gold francs from the Federated and Unfederated Malay States, this amount representing the net balance in favour of the Straits Settlements of the letter mail transit accounts.
3. The Money Order services with the States of Johore, Kelantan, Kedah (in- cluding Perlis), Trengganu, and Brunei are at present conducted through the medium of the Straits Settlements Administration, which makes a small deduction from the amount of each Order in respect of its intermediary services. It would appear that, upon the introduction of one single Administration for accounting purposes in relation to mails, exception might reasonably be taken to the continuance of payments to the Straits Settlements for its services in respect of Money Order transactions, so that some further loss of revenue might be anticipated under this head.
4. As regards Parcel Post, although Great Britain and the British Dominions and Colonies are not parties to the Parcel Post Agreement of the Postal Union, it would be desirable that Malaya should conform to Union practice and charge the same rate for parcels for all destinations in Malaya irrespective of the number of separate States through which the parcels might pass. It is understood, however, that such an arrangement already obtains, and it is presumed that it will not be disturbed.
I am further to observe that in paragraph 11 of the High Commissioner's despatch. His Excellency expressed the opinion that in the public interest all postage stamps issued in Malaya should be available for use throughout the Peninsula and should not be restricted as at present to the Colony or States in which they are issued," but Article 6 of the Agreement. while reserving to each State the right to issue its own stamps, does not provide for their general use throughout Malaya.
I am,&c..
F. H. WILLIAMSON.
second.
129
While I appreciate the practical objections to an extension of the authority
of the present office of Secretary for Postal Affairs, I am not altogether satisfied that the grounds given for preferring an Executive Board to a single Executive Officer, assisted perhaps by the Advisory Board, are to be regarded as conclusive. problem is similar in certain respects to that already under discussion in connexion The with the management of the Federated Malay States Railways, and I propose to give my further consideration in the light of such recommendations as Sir Samuel Wilson may submit to me on his return from Malaya.
it
5.
The proposals of the Committee for the constitution of the Executive Board are contained in paragraph 20 (3) of their report. It is clear that, if all the Unfederated States joined the proposed Union, their representation on the Board would be out of proportion to the volume of their postal business and revenues; but I recognize that neither this consideration nor that of simple efficiency of control is necessarily to be regarded as decisive, and that political considerations may require some concession to the smaller States in this respect.
6. I am in general agreement with the view expressed by you at the Sri Menanti Durbar that Malaya should be constituted as a single unit in the Universal Postal Union. I recognize that your modifications of the Committee's proposals have in view the inclusion of the several Malay States-Federated and Unfederated-in that single unit and, if it appeared probable that the Unfederated States would adhere to your scheme, I should be prepared to weigh carefully the advantage accruing from such adherence against any administrative defects that the proposed changes might entail
7. I desire in conclusion to refer to one point of detail. Menanti Durbar you expressed the view that the constitution of Malaya as a unit I note that, at the Sri in the Universal Postal Union would make it possible to issue a common air-mail stamp for Malaya. It is not clear to me which clause in the draft Agreement, forming Enclosure 4 in your despatch, provides for the issue of such a stamp; but in any case, I would invite reference to Mr. Thomas's Miscellaneous despatch of the 21st of September* in which the general objections to the issue of a special air-mail stamp were explained.
I have, &c.
C. 92296/32 [No. 7].
SIR.
No. 47.
FEDERATED MALAY STATES.
THE SECRETARY OF STATE to THE HIGH COMMISSIONER.
(No. 260 )
1
[Answered by No. 48.]
Downing Street, 17th August, 1932.
I HAVE the honour to refer to your Federated Malay States despatch, No. 766 of the 17th of December,* submitting your proposals for the reorganization of the Postal Services in Malaya, and to confirm my telegram of the 11th August, 1932,† in which I informed you that, in view of the bearing of the scheme on your decentraliza- tion proposals, I considered it desirable that a final decision should be deferred until after Sir S. Wilson's visit.
2. A copy of your despatch and enclosures was submitted to the General Post Office for consideration, and I enclose, for your information, a copy of the reply. I shall be glad to receive your comments on the Postmaster-General's observations.
3. I note from paragraphs 7-11 of your despatch that you have considerably modified the proposals of the Telegraph and Telephone Communications Committee The Committee found that the existing postal organization in the Straits Settlements and Federated Malay States had achieved many of the objects envisaged by the 1924 Postal Services Committee, but that a number of difficulties had arisen which militated against efficient and economical working. Moreover, they held that these difficulties would inevitably be intensified as the postal business of the Unfederated Malay States increased.
4. I note the view expressed by the Committee in Section 18 of their report as to the best solution, were circumstances such as to render it practicable, of the whole problem. This solution being held to be excluded, the Committee took into consideration two alternative proposals, viz.: (1) an increase in the powers of the co-ordinating authority; and (2) the substitution of a new co-ordinating authority with enhanced powers; and of these alternatives they rejected the first in favour of the
* No. 45.
† C. 92296/32 [No. 6]: not printed.
No. 46.
13315/33 [No. 1].
SIR,
No. 48.
(for the Secretary of State),
R. W. HAMILTON.
FEDERATED MALAY STATES.
STRAITS SETTLEMENTS.
THE HIGH COMMISSIONER to THE SECRETARY OF STATE. (Received 9th January, 1933.)
(No. 794.)
[Answered by No. 49.]
Government House, Singapore, 15th December, 1932.
I HAVE the honour to invite reference to your despatch, Federated Malay States, No. 260 of the 17th August, 1932,† regarding the reorganization of the postal services
in Malaya, and to inform you that this matter was discussed with Sir Samuel Wilson during his visit at Kuala Lumpur on 28th November.
2. It was explained to Sir Samuel Wilson that it was desired to create a Postal Union of the Straits Settlements and Federated Malay States with effect from 1st January, 1934, and that it was desired to take steps as soon as possible for the preparation of postage stamps bearing the superscription Malaya in order that they might be ready for issue simultaneously by the administrations concerned on that date.
3. At the same time a copy of the Agreement proposed was submitted to Sir Samuel Wilson. This Agreement has been revised to meet certain points raised in your despatch under reference. A copy marked "A" is attached herewith, and
I would request your approval of this Agreement in its revised form.
4. Your attention is invited to various points of detail in the revised Agreement, and I propose to summarize the more important points briefly.
* C. 81219/31 [No. 9]: not printed.
+ No. 47.
PECORD OFFICE
Reference-
1111C.0.882/19
| PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-
COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.