PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
MC.O. 885
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
5 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
52
paid to the Inland Revenue for this purpose by Colonial Governments has already been nearly 800,000.
F. D. BELL.
Westminster Chambers,
14th April 1887.
STATEMENT showing approximate amounts paid to the Imperial Government on account of Stamp Duty on Colonial Loans issued in London.
At per cent.
£
d.
Australasia-
New South Wales
17,052,700
2 6
23,686,300
12 6
£ J. d.
21,315 17 6
148,039 7 6
£
s. d.
169,355 5 0
New Zealand -
8,917,700
1 0
4,158 17 0
4,660,100
2 6
36,943 10 0
24,894,700
2 6
5,371,200
7 6
20,142 0 0
9,146,655
10 0
45,733 5 6
7,974,100
12 6
49,840 0 0
157,117 12 6
Queensland
12,203,899
2 G
15,254 17 6
1,694,900
10 0
8,474 10 0
9,172,000
12 6
57,325 0 0
81,054 7 6
South Australia
12,174,550
2 6
15,218 3 9
581,400
10 0
2,907 0 0
5,643,500
12 6
Tasmania
3,702,500
2 6
Victoria
14,224,600
2 6
5,000,000
10 0
12,732,400
12 6
W. Australia -
1,129,000
479,600
2 6
10 0
35,271 17 6
4,628 2 6
17,780 15 0
25,000 0 0
79,577 10
1,411 5 0 2,398 0 0
53,397 1
4,628 2 6
3
0
122,358 5 0
3,809 5 0
Canada-
Dominion
11,051,422
2 6
13,814 5 9
16,881,714
7 6
63,306 0 0
Provinces
5,244,800
2 6
6,556 0 0
83,676 5 9
Cape
15,454,100
2 6
19,317 12 6
7,488,682
10 0
37,448 8 0
5,749,495
12 6
35,034 6 10
Natal
92,695 7 4
4,095,800
2 6
1,678,830
10 0
Ceylon
2,066,000
2 6
702,000
10 0
Fiji
150,000
2 6
Mauritius
1,200,000
2 6
5,119 15
8,394 3
2,582 10 0
3,510 0 0
187 10 0
1,500 0 0
0
0
13,513 18 0
6,092 10 0
187 10 0
Other Crown Colonies
1,500 0 0
199,700
10 0
998 10 0
2,522,500
2 6
3,153
6
4,151 12 6
£ 793,537 2 4
53
SECTION III.—POSTAL AND TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION. A. Postal.
No. 24.
THE PRESENT POSITION OF THE AUSTRALIAN MAIL QUESTION. COLONIAL OFFICE MEMORANDUM with CORRESPONDENCE appended.
Tenders sent in by the Peninsular and Oriental Company and the Orient Steam Navigation Company were transmitted to New South Wales, Victoria, and South' Australia in May 1886; and on the 16th of December 1886 the Governor of Victoria telegraphed as follows:—
"At meeting of Ministers representing New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia it was agreed to request Postmaster-General to negotiate with Peninsular and Oriental Company and Orient Company for thirty-three days' mail service, on payment by weight. Failing this, Imperial and Colonial Governments to offer 160,000l. a year to Peninsular and Oriental Company and Orient Company, or either, for performance between them of whole weekly service in 33 days. Failing this, suggests for consideration of Post- master-General the expediency of accepting present tenders on reduction of Peninsular and Oriental subsidy to 90,000/., and Orient 20,000/. Failing negotiations, invite fresh tenders thirty-four days' service on original conditions. In any event contract to be for five years, with penalties, and without premiums.
"Governments urge strong representations be made for reduction of transit charges through Italy and France by accelerated train service, and of the rate 30 centimes single rate letter levied by Italy. If these rates reduced, Colonies will adopt uniform rate 6d. per ounce on letters to all countries of Europe. Colonies do not approve of foreign ships having mail contracts.'
Negotiations were accordingly opened by the General Post Office with those com- panies; and the result was an offer on the part of the Peninsular and Oriental Company to reduce the subsidy originally demanded by their tender from 115,000/. to 100,000), för a seven years' contract, and from 100,000l. to 85,0001. for a ten years' contract.
The Orient Company, on their part, offered to reduce their subsidy per voyage each way from 7501. to 550, retaining the price originally asked for the contents of the mails, viz., 12. a pound for letters, 6d. a pound for other mail matter.
[See printed letters annexed, dated 19th January 1887.]
These offers led to a conference at the Post Office, at which the three Colonies were represented by their Agents General and the two Companies by some of their directors.
The views of the Australian Colonies were explained to the Companies' representatives and the modifications already offered were declared to be unsatisfactory. After much discussion the Companies were asked to reconsider their offers, more particularly as regards the duration of the contracts, which the Colonies desire to limit to a term of five years. They acquiesced, and on the 18th of February 1887 sent in further letters. [See printed letters annexed.]
The result seems to be-
(1.) That neither Company will enter into a contract for the short term of five years. (2.) That the Orient Company are willing to take an annual fixed subsidy in substitu- tion for the payment originally demanded, partly by poundage and partly by a fixed sum per voyage; and would accept an eight years' instead of a ten years' contract.
(3.) That the Peninsular and Oriental Company are willing to make the terin of contract anything within seven and ten years, with a corresponding sliding scale in the amounts of the subsidy tendered for on the basis of these respective periods.
These last letters were communicated by the Post Office to the Agents General for New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia on the 22nd February, and their obser- vations thereon invited.
It is hoped that the delegates from New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia will state, as early as may be possible, their wishes on this subject, which has been left open till they arrived, in order that Her Majesty's Government may decide upon the tenders.
Her Majesty's Government will do all in their power to bring about the desired reduction of the transit rates for the accelerated train service through France and Italy,
G 3
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