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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

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ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-

COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

C.O. 885/5 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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uttermost the movement originating in the German Post Office; and he will use his best endeavours to induce that office to withdraw from the highly unreasonable attitude which as a representative of inland interests, it has assumed.

The Cape Colony and Natal are, in their degree, equally interested in opposing the German scheme; and, now that the British Colonics are beginning to support mail packet services of their own, the question becomes one of large Colonial, as well as Imperial, concern.

The Postmaster-General is entirely opposed to any reduction whatever of the present rates for sea transit, which in actual circumstances are but moderate; and he feels sure that Lord Kimberley will wish to put the Colonial Governments at the Cape and Natal in possession of the circumstances detailed above. He is of opinion that, if these Colonies make an unqualified application for admission to the Union, they will run a very grave risk of incurring within a comparatively short period the loss of revenue incidental to a forced reduction of postage and a forced conveyance of mails from other countries at a payment of one-third of the present rate.

Mr. Fawcett thinks it would be wise, therefore, if, when the application is made, it were coupled with two stipulations :—

(1.) That the rates of payment for sea transit, and the surtaxes, fixed by the Con vention of Paris, shall not be reduced at all events until after the next quin- quennial Congress to that of 1884; and

(2.) That the South African group of Colonies shall have a separate voice in the

affairs of the Postal Union.

The Postmaster-General attaches considerable importance to the second stipulation, because it has been found from experience that the great financial interests of the Empire are not adequately protected by the very small number of voices accorded to Great Britain and her Possessions. Notice has already been given to the International Bureau of the Union that this country will apply at Lisbon for a more adequate representation of her Colonies; and it is thought that a stipulation in the same sense coming from a Colony rot already pledged to the Union system would have great weight. Indeed, 80 anxious are some of the European Administrations to see the rest of our Colonies in the Union, that it is likely there would be a general preference for the accession of the South African group on these terms, rather than not at all.

A similar preference would probably apply to the Australasian Colonies if they decided to apply for admission to the Union; and the present opportunity may fitly serve to point out that the success of the German scheme would upset the whole of the calculations connected with the question of their adherence, just as it would those relating to the adherence of the Cape and Natal.

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No. 23.

RESOLUTIONS to which the POSTAL CONFERENCE of 1883 at SYDNEY agreed.

POSTAL UNION.

That this Conference, having had under its consideration the various despatches from the Imperial Government and other memoranda and statistics respecting the Universal Postal Union, is of opinion,-

1. That the Australasian Colonies should apply for admission to the said Postal

Union.

2. That the stipulations suggested by the Postmaster-General of England, in the despatch dated 6th November 1882, as precedent to such entry, he insisted

upon.

3. That each of the Australasian Colonies, parties to this agreement, be necorded à

separate voice in the affairs of the Union.

4. That cach Colony continue the management and responsibility of its existing subsidised line, but that any other Colony using such line shall pay to the subsidising Colony the full amount of the postage upon all postal matter despatched from such Colony, the subsidising Colony paying all transit rates on homeward mails, and receiving the proportion of Union transit rates due on outward mails, and any contribution from England in respect of the postal matter carried by each line.

5. That if on annual investigation it be shown that, by adopting Postal Union rates, any such subsidising Colony incurs a greater loss than it at present incurs (subject, in the case of New South Wales, and New Zealand, to modification consequent upon the reduced Pacific mail contract now being entered into), an adjustment shall be made out of such excess loss whereby it shall be borne by the subsidising Colony and the other Colonies using such line, proportion to the postal matter carried.

6. In the event of New South Wales,concluding a contract with the Orient Company, it shall be at the risk of that Colony only; but any other Colony transmitting postal matter thereby shall pay the said Company a rate not less than 10s. per pound on letters and 6d, per pound on newspapers and packets transmitted homeward thereby.

7. That no future postal subsidy shall be subject to this agreement except by the

unanimous approval of the Colonies assenting hereto.

6th Novem- ber 1882.

No. 21.

TEXT of CIRCULAR from COLONIAL OFFICE to certain COLONIES, dated 13th December 1882.

I have the honour to transmit to you, for your information and guidance, and for communication to your Ministers, a copy of a letter from the Postmaster-General, drawing attention to certain proposed alterations in the rates for sea service fixed by the Postal Union, and to the conditions upon which, if at all, the South African and Australian Colonies might offer to join the Union.

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No. 22.

EXTRACT of a LETTER from the COLONIAL OFFICE to the POST OFFICE, dated the 19th July 1883.

I am directed by the Earl of Derby to transmit to you, to be laid before the Post- master-General, a copy of two despatches from the Governor of New South Wales, enclosing a printed copy of resolutions agreed to at a Postal Conference which has been held at Sydney, and of the proceedings of the Conference.

No. 24.

TEXT of LETTER from POST OFFICE to COLONIAL OFFICE, dated 9th of August 1883.

you

In acknowledging the receipt of your letter of the 19th ultimo, I am directed by the Postmaster-General to return, as requested, the original printed documents which were good enough to send for his perusal, relative to the Postal Conference recently held at Sydney on the subject of the Australasian Colonies joining the Postal Union.

In consequence of the decision come to by the Colonies of New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia, and Tasmania to enter the Postal Union provided certain conditions are accorded to them, the Postmaster-General has obtained the authority of the Treasury for making the necessary application, diplomatically, to the Swiss Government, and he has caused a communication on the subject to be addressed to the Foreign Office.

No. 25.

TEXT of LETTER from the POST OFFICE to the COLONIAL OFFICE, dated

27th November 1883.

I am directed by the Postmaster-General to communicate to you, for the information

of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, the result of the application of the Cape Colony for admission to the Postal Union.

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