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Colonies and Tasmania does not lead us to anticipate that any serious risk would be incurred by extending it to New Zealand. We advise that the usual Money Order Commissions be charged, plus the cost of a ten-word telegraph message to the paying office, and another to the payee." The system was brought into operation in July, 1897, and, in the Regulations adopted, it was provided that one message would' "be sufficient for any number of Orders from the same remitter to the same payee, provided the numbers are continuous." i However, on the 21st December, 1897, Mr. Warren, of the Eastern Extension Telegraph Company, wrote, intimating that, from the Ist January, 1898, "only one Money Order will be accepted at the single rate, evety additional Order embodied in the same message to be charged as an extra message, " and also suggesting that a considerable reduction in the average number of words in a message would be made were the signatures to Telegraph Money Order Advices omitted. On the recommendation of the Controller, it was decided by Neto South Wales to " agree to dispense with the transmission of the Postmaster s name and designation to all telegraphic advices to New Zealand, as it is of no use to the paying office." However, in the Regulations subsequently prepared on the subject, it was provided that " in advising the remittance of money by telegram to either New Zealand or Tasmania, the Postmaster or other official will not give his name or" official designation, but simply the name of the office at which the order is issued." The Tasmanian Postal Authorities apparently were not consulted respecting the above-mentioned altered arrangement, and on receipt of an unsigned telegraph money order advice from the Postmaster, Oxford-street, made enquiry in the matter. A memorandum in reply seems to have been sent from the Money Order Office, to which the Hobart Office replied that " Telegraph Money Order advices unsigned will not be recognised by this Colony (Tasmania)." Hobart was thereupon informed that " signatures of Postmasters dispensed with in accordance with arrangement with Cable Company." A letter, dated the 16th February, 1898, has since come to hand from Tasmania, intimating that with regard to the signatures of telegraphic advices being abolished altogether, the question will be placed before the Honorable the Postmaster-General on his return to the Colony, and his decision made known to you. By letter, dated the 19th February, Mr. Warren intimated that "on and after the Ist March, 1898, the Neiv Zealand cable rate for official Telegraph Money Order Advices will be two shillings and sixpence, instead of two shillings, as at present" also that " additional orders may be included in one telegram at the minimum rate of tivo shillings and sixpence?' In reply to an enquiry from the Sydney Office, Mr. Warren stated that the above rates will not apply to Tasmanian Money Order cable business. The points for consideration seem to be the adoption of a uniform practice on the part of the whole of the Australasian Colonies respecting the signing or otherwise of Telegraph Money Order Advices to New Zealand and Tasmania respectively. New Zealand has intimated that the Postal Department of that Colony is unable to dispense with the issuing officer's signature ,* whilst Tasmania has notified the Sydney Office that unsigned Telegraph Money Order Advices will not be recognised by that Colony. We are of opinion that the practice of wiring the Postmaster's signature is a safeguard. We also consider that the simplest way of adjusting the charges ivith the Cable Company would be to pay them their proper tariff of 2s. in the case of New* Zealand, and I*. in the case of Tasmania, for the first 10 words, and 3c?. and lc?. each additional w r ord contained in the messages transmitted over the New Zealand and Tasmanian cable lines respectively, the sender, of course, being charged the full rates as given in the Postal Guide. No. 61. —"Exchange of Money Orders with Japan." The Hong Kong Office having intimated that they can no longer act as intermediary in connection with the exchange of Money Orders between Australia and Japan, we advise that a joint Convention be entered into with that country. Nos. 62 and 63. —" Suggested discontinuance of the issue of Duplicate Postal Notes and the payment of the face value of postage stamps affixed to Postal Notes."-—"Duplicate Postal Notes." We advise that a duplicate of any postal note be not issued unless on absolute proof of the destruction of the original note, and then only after the expiration of six months from the date of issue, the extra poundage rate to be charged on such duplicate ; and that the existing regulation which permits of postage stamps being affixed to postal notes to the extent of sc?. be rescinded. (Referred back to Sub-Committee for further report). No. 64. —"Exchange of Postal Notes between Australasia and the United Kingdom." At the 1892 (Hobart) Conference it was decided to invite the London Office " to adopt an exchange of postal notes with the Australasian Colonies on the same lines as those now r existing between some of the Colonies." At the 1893 (Brisbane) Conference the Permanent Heads -reported that "the London Office having absolutely refused to exchange postal notes with

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