F.—3.

widely as possible, lam to explain that the Postmaster-General is powerless in this matter. Nor is it one affecting the International Bureau, of which the function is to announce and record the arrangements between the contracting parties of the union, and not to intervene save as a medium of communication. Under Article XXI. of the Postal Union Convention of Washington it is only by mutual agreement between Post Office and Post Office that restricted unions for the reduction of postage-rates can be formed; and it will rest with the New Zealand Post Office to treat directly with any foreign Post Office with which it desires to establish penny postage. The result of any such negotiation will, of course, be awaited by Her Majesty's Postmaster-General with much interest. ****** I am, &c, The Hon. W. P. Beeves, Agent-General for New Zealand. G. H. Murhay.

For Enclosure 3, see No. 58.]

Enclosure 4 in No. 60. The Agent-General to the Secretary, General Post Office, London. Westminster Chambers, 13, Victoria Street, London, S.W., Sib,— 12th October, 1900. I beg to acknowledge with many thanks your letter of 9th instant, informing me that penny postage between New Zealand and every other part of the British Empire included in the scheme will commence on the Ist January next; and also explaining what has to be done to establish penny postage with foreign countries. :!: * * * * * I at once cabled to my Government the information you gave as to the operation of penny postage on Ist January. * * ■;: * * * I am, &c, The Secretary, General Post Office, B.C. W. P. Beeves.

iEnclosures 5 and 6 not printed.]

No. 61. The Hon. the Peemier to the Agent-General. (Telegram.) Wellington, 20th October, 1900. Univeesal penny postage-stamps : Print second million.

No. 62. The Dibeotoe-Genebal of Swiss Posts, Berne, to the Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington. Direction Generale dcs Postes Suisses, Monsieue le Dieecteuk-General, — Berne, le 26 Octobre, 1900. Bepondant a votre lettre dv 8 Septembre dernier et en me referant a la circulaire dv Bureau international de l'Union postale universelle dv 10 courant, j'ai l'honnsur de vous informer que mon Administration nest pas en mesure de dormer suite actuelleinent a votre proposition de conclure un arrangement reduisant a 1 penny (soit la contre-valeur de cette somme) la taxe simple dcs correspondances dans l'eehange avec votre pays a partir dv ler Janvier prochain. Veuillez agreer, &c, Le Directeur-General, General Post Office (Nouvelle-Zelande), Wellington. Lutz.

[Translation.] In reply to your letter of Bth September last, and referring to the circular of the International Office of the Universal Postal Union of the 10th instant, I have the honour to inform you that my Administration is not as yet in a position to give effect to your wishes for concluding an agreement reducing to one penny (or the equivalent of that sum) the single rate for correspondence exchanged with your country from the Ist January next.

3—F. 3.

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