MELBOURNE POSTAL CONFERENCE.

23

E.—No. 2.

Seconded by Mr. Ward. The amendment was put to the meeting by the Chairman, with the following result: — For. Against. New Zealand. Victoria, New South "Wales, South Australia, Tasmania, Queensland. The amendment was accordingly lost, and the original resolution, as proposed, was agreed to. The eighth resolution was agreed to, after inserting the word " postal" after the word " considerable," in second line. The ninth resolution was agreed to, after striking out all the words from " partly," first line, to " relations" inclusive, in second line, and by striking out the words " any new," second line, and inserting in lieu " the proposed." On the tenth resolution being considered, it was proposed by Mr. Boucaut, and seconded by Mr. Duffield, That the proportion to be borne by South Australia shall be one-thirteenth, and that by Tasmania be one forty-seventh. This amendment was put to the meeting by the Chairman, with the following result: — For. Against. South Australia, Victoria, New Zealand. New South Wales, Queensland, Tasmania. The amendment was accordingly lost, and the original resolution, as proposed, was agreed to. The eleventh resolution was agreed to, after striking out the word " England," last line, and inserting the words " United Kingdom " in lieu. The whole of the resolutions, as follow, were then unanimously agreed to. "1. That any scheme of ocean postal communication agreed upon by this Conference should, in providing for the general convenience, be so adapted to special interests as to secure the concurrence and support of all the associated Colonies. " 2. That any such scheme will be valuable to each of the Colonies in proportion to the number of points of commercial intercourse which it shall be made to include, consistently with expedition and regularity of conveyance between Great Britain and Australia. "3. That the facilities for the transmission of merchandise and for passenger traffic ought not to be overlooked as collateral advantages. "4. That the advantage of more rapid telegraphic communication by way of Torres Straits commends that route to the favorable consideration of the Conference. "5. That the contributions of the associated Colonies to the cost of any such general scheme should be proportioned, not so much by calculations of the actual population or the post office correspondence, as on the basis of a compromise of interests and preferences in view of a common federal object. " 6. That, considering our political connection as dependencies of the Crown, and the interest of Great Britain as a commercial nation in the trade and progress of the Colonies, one-half of the cost of any such aggregate scheme ought to be borne by the Imperial Government. " 7. That in the proposed federal action, the Colonies of Victoria, New South "Wales, and New Zealand are considered as possessing equal interests, which may be approximately estimated as follows: — Victoria. —On the basis of population and commerce, with her general interest in Australian progress, and her special interest in the maintenance of the Suez route, from her undoubted priority of advantages derived from it. New South Wales.—On the basis of population and commerce and the same general interest, with her supposed greater interest in the Panama route. New Zealand.—On the same basis of individual and general interest, with her undoubted priority of advantages in communication via Panama. " 8. That the interests of Queensland, governed by her geographical situation, require a special service which does not present any considerable postal advantages to the other Colonies, but that it is not desirable that Queensland should be disunited from the other Colonies in the settlement of this question. " 9. That the Colonies of South Australia and Tasmania will be least affected by the proposed adjustment of the existing postal arrangements. " 10. That, in order to establish a postal system affording regular fortnightly communication by three lines, via Brisbane and Torres Straits to Singapore, via Melbourne and South Australia to Suez, and via New Zealand to Panama, with the necessary branch services, the six Colonies represented at this Conference should contribute a moiety, not exceeding £200,000, of the total cost, in the following proportions, viz.: — Victoria ... ... ... ... ... One-fourth. New South Wales ... ... ... ... One-fourth. New Zealand ... ... ... ... ... One-fourth. Queensland ... ... ... ... ... One-seventh. South Australia ... ... ... ... One-twelfth. Tasmania ... ... ... ... ... One fiftieth. " 11. That it is expedient that the six Colonies represented at this Conference should act in concert in urging these views, and should join in a Memorial to Her Majesty, setting forth the mutual advantages to be derived by Great Britain and Australia from their adoption." The meeting then adjourned, at 2 p.m., until 11 a.m. on Thursday, 14th March, 1867. James McCtjlloch.