20

No. 12. —" The Postage to be charged on obliterated stamps and spent letters." Recommended, That obliterated stamps and spent letters be sent at Commercial Paper Rates within the Colonies, subject to usual packet Regulations, but this cannot be done internationally, as the Rules of the Universal Postal Union Convention require letter rate to be paid. No. 13. —"Bankers' Parcels : need for strictly enforcing Regulations relating thereto." We advise that intercolonially the following existing Regulation be in future strictly adhered to : — Bankers' packets (i.e., packets sent from one bank to another), containing bank-notes, cheques, cheque-books, drafts or orders, provided they are enclosed in covers with the ends sufficiently open to admit of postal officials seeing that they contain nothing in the nature of a letter. Though not compulsory, it is strongly recommended that bank-notes should be registered. They must be registered if addressed to another Australian Colony, and cannot be forwarded at packet rates to the United Kingdom, West Australia, New Zealand, or any other country. Bank passbooks may be sent from or to any bank at packet rates, provided they are enclosed in covers with the ends sufficiently open to admit of postal officials seeing that " passbooks" only are being transmitted. Every such packet must be endorsed " Passbook only." No. 14. —"The Intercolonial Packet Post to be limited to articles of no commercial or saleable value." We consider that the present Regulations which admit of small packets of merchandise not exceeding 1 pound in weight being exchanged with all Colonies except Queensland, at packet rate of Id. per 2 ounces should be adhered to, and, if possible, be extended to Queensland • that Colony however objects to merchandise being sent by packet post. A discussion took place on this subject; the Representatives of New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia urging the Representative of Queensland to reduce the charges and fall into line with the other Colonies. Hon. J. R. Dickson promised to bring the subject under the notice of the Queensland Government. No. 15. —" Practice of taxing 'officially' or ' compulsorily ' registered International correspondence supposed to contain money or other valuable enclosure." The Postal Laws of the Colonies provide for compulsory registration of letters containing valuable enclosures. Under the Universal Postal Union, however, it is not permissible to send coin, bullion, &c, and the principle of compulsory or official registration is not recognised under the Convention. The practice of compulsorily registering letters to Great Britain containing coin or bank notes has, however, been in operation for some time past in most of the Colonies, and, until recently, accepted by the London Post Office. We consider that, in the case of letters containing valuable enclosures posted in the ordinary way, it is more desirable in every respect to send them on charged with registration fee than to send them forward unregistered. We advise that the London Office be communicated with, and invited to accept such correspondence in future as they have done in the past, and collect the registration fee on delivery. No. 16. —"Proposed Amendment of Article 12 of the Australasian Postal Convention so far as it relates to Travellers' Cards or Circulars." Under Article 12 of the Australasian Postal Convention appears the following paragraph :— " Cards, Travellers' Cards, or Circulars may be sent at Packet rates, and, if necessary, may include a catalogue or list of prices. They may also bear the date and name of the traveller." We recommend that the following words be added—"the date of sending and the date of intended visit of the traveller, also the time of departure of train or steamer, and name of latter by which the goods are forwarded." No. 17. —"Permission to Commercial Travellers to post letters on trains without affixing Late fee." We consider this matter should be left to each Administration to act for itself. It is in operation in Victoria and New South Wales, whilst in Tasmania no Late fees are charged. No. 18. —" Grocers' Price Lists, Postage on." Two newspapers submitted by South Australia, apparently intended as " Grocers' Price Lists," but some other matter being included in order to induce the Department to pass them as newspapers, it is recommended that one of the publications submitted, namely, " Monthly News," is within the definition of a newspaper, and can pass through the post as such. The second, " The Household," does not comply with the Regulations, inasmuch as the full date of publication is not given. Referred back to the Sub-Committee to be re-formulated.