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Melbourne Friday Adelaide Saturday thus avoiding trains running Sundays Believe date would also suit West Australia The present day for closing English mails Sydney is most inconvenient and has been protested against by merchants repeatedly Henry Chas. Mitchell Secretary Chamber of Commerce." The PRESIDENT : With all respect to the Postmaster-General of New South W ales, I think as we have already finally dealt with this matter, it is not within the power of the committee of the permanent heads to deal with it again. If we are to deal with it at all, as we have agreed with the other matter already reopened, whatever Mr. Kidd desires to say should be said without respect to any further expression of opinion from the permanent heads. If we adopt his proposal, our proceedings will become very irregular. I think Mr. Kidd can easily deal with the proposals made by tho permanent heads now that the subject is reopened. Mr. R. A. SHOLL (W.A.) : I was not aware that this was in the last report of the permanent heads. I was unavoidably absent last evening, but had I been present I would have pointed out that the question had already been dealt with by the Conference. You cannot go behind that, and that is the reason why I move that the report be recommitted, in order to alter it in a proper manner. The PRESIDENT : The amendment is that the day of departure from Adelaide be Friday a* 1 p.m., reaching Albany in 72 hours. Is there any further amendment to be moved ? The Hon. J. KIDD : I move that it be 2 o'clock instead of 1 o'clock, for the reasons pointed out by Mr. Todd, that difference in the time is about 1 j hours. The time taken is 72 hours, and the boats reaching Albany at 5 o'clock, 4i hours extra would be given. If the Conference agree to the amendment on the amendment, the Adelaide people will be given plenty of time, and there is not the slightest risk of the requirements of Western Australia not being met. Mr. R. A.. SHOLL (W.A.) : I should be very glad to give way on that point, but what I said the other day was that with the exception of the " Britannia" and one or two other fast boats, the steamers never arrive to time, viz., noon. If they can make the run in 72 hours, it will be perfectly satisfactory. I shall be only too glad to have the time altered, so long as our mails are not left behind. The PRESIDENT : Will Saturday 2 o'clock suit Western Australia ? Mr. C. TODD (S.A.): We are going to have fast not slow boats. The contract prescribes seventy-two hours as the time for the run between Adelaide and Albany ; and if the steamers leave Adelaide at 2 o'clock sharp—that is, 1230 o'clock Perth time —they will have seventy-seven hours for the journey, which will be ample. I would suggest that we specify 2 o'clock, and if we find afterwards that the steamers do not arrive in time for Western Australia we can revert to 1 o'clock. The Hon. A. WYNNE (V.) suggested that it would meet the difficulty if they stated "not later" than 2 o'clock. The Hon. J. G. WARD (N.Z.) : I think, in order to remove all possibility of the people of Western Australia being inconvenienced in the way described by Mr. Sholl, the resolution should state that the time shall be 2 o'clock, on the understanding that if that is found unsuitable for Western Australia it shall be altered to 1 o'clock. I would suggest that the Hon. Mr. Kidd include that in his amendment. The Hon. J. KIDD (N.S.W.) : I have no objection. The PRESIDENT i The question is—" That the day of departure from Adelaide be Saturday not later than 2 p.m., reaching Albany in seventy-two hours." Mr. R. A. SHOLL (W.A.) : How about the convenience of Western Australia if this time is irrevocably fixed ? The Hon. J. G. WARD (N.Z.) : It is an honourable understanding that if the time does not suit Western Australia, it will be altered. Mr. R. A. SHOLL : I am perfectly satisfied, on that understanding. Question put and passed. REPORT BY PERMANENT HEADS OF DEPARTMENTS. Mr. J. McDONNELL (Q.), as chairman of the permanent heads of departments, presented their report on the remainder of tho matters remitted to them ; and the Conference proceeded to consider seriatim the various items contained therein. The following recommendations were formally agreed to : — 7. Postal Union. (a) (1) Newspaper rates, and (2) printed paper rates to tho United Kingdom — As it is imperative under the Postal Union Convention that newspapers exceeding 4 oz. in weight should bear an additional rate of postage, We recommend that from the Ist July next the rate to the United Kingdom be— Each newspaper not exceeding 4 oz. ... ... ... Id. Every additional 2 oz. or fraction thereof ... ... ... Jd. (b) Proposal