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WELLINGTON CONFERENCE, MARCH, 189< Papers tabled by the Hon. J. S. Ward, M.H.R.

Ocean Penny Postage. (Service Telegram). Wellington, 24th March, 1894. Postmaster General, London. Postal Conference at final sitting passed Resolution against Penny Letter Postage United Kingdom and Colonies, and requested me cable decision. This has been done through Reuter, who will forward you copy Resolution. J G WARD, President.

Sir, 17th April, 1894. I have the honor to confirm my cablegram to you on the 24th ultimo, advising that a copy of the Resolution in reference to the question of Penny Postage from the United Kingdom to the Australasian Colonies, passed at the final sitting of the Intercolonial Postal and Telegraph Conference held in New Zealand last month, had been cabled to you through Reuters Telegram Company, and append herewith copy of the Resolution : — " That, with regard to the proposals from time to time made for Penny Postage between Great Britain and the Colonies, and, more recently, that such be adopted for letters from the United Kingdom, leaving the rate from the Colonies as at present, this Conference, while recognising the desirableness of adopting the lowest possible rate, desires to express the opinion that the heavy cost of providing speedy and regular communication does not admit of any further reduction being made at the present time, the reduction to 2|rf. in 1891 having resulted in an annual loss to the Colonies of about £40,000 ; and that the partial reduction proposed, namely, in the rate from Great Britain, would be most undesirable, as such a measure would compel the Colonies to reduce their inland and intercolonial rates from 2d. to Id., involving a probable loss to them of a quarter of a million per annum, in addition to that already mentioned as the result of the reduction to I\d. ; and that a copy of the foregoing be transmitted to the Imperial Government." The Resolution was proposed by the Postmaster-General of New South Wales, and seconded by the Postmaster-General of Victoria, and approved by all the Representatives except myself, I dissenting on behalf of New Zealand. So soon as the Report of the Conference proceedings has been revised six copies will be sent you. I have, &c. J G WARD, President. Hon. the Postmaster-General, London.

General Post Office, London, Sib, Ist June, 1894. I am directed by the Postmaster-General to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 17th April last, No. P.G. 94/1557 A., and to thank you for communicating to him the Resolution recently passed by the Intercolonial Postal and Telegraph Conference against the adoption of Penny Postage from the United Kingdom to the Australasian Colonies. I am, &c. H. BUXTON FORMAN The President, Postal and Telegraph Conference, Wellington.

Ocean Mail Services.—San Francisco Mail Service. The Hon. the President of the Postal and Telegraph Conference, New Zealand, to the Hon. the Postmaster-General, Washington. Postal and Telegraph Conference, Wellington, New Zealand, 1894. General Post Office, Wellington, 17th April, 1894. Sir, I have the honor to send you herewith (enclosure No. 1 ) copy of a Resolution in relation to the San Francisco Mail Service, passed by the Australasian Postal and Telegraph Conference, which sat in this city last month. You will observe that the terms of the Resolution refer both to the