10

F.—3

No. 30. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Secretary, Postmaster-General's Department, Melbourne. SIX ._ General Post Office, Wellington,. 16th March, 1904. Keferri'ng to my telegram of the 7th October last and to your reply of the 9th idem, in connection with the posting at newspaper-rates of Christmas numbers of New Zealand weekly newspapers, some of which did not strictly comply with newspaper conditions, I have now the honour to inform you that it has been pointed out by newspaper-proprietors that in order to protect the packets containing a number of papers it is necessary to place some resisting substance, such as strawboards, around them. As the cardboard would be used merely as a means of protection I should be glad if you would give the matter your consideration with a view to determining whether the cardboard packing may continue to be used in future on bundles of newspapers forwarded from this colony to the Commonwealth. As you are no doubt aware the London Post Office lias agreed to accept newspapers from New Zealand prepaid Id. each, irrespective of weight, as from the Ist instant. The anomaly will, therefore now exist of newspapers for the United Kingdom, weighing over 20 oz., passing at a lower rate than those for the shorter distance to the Commonwealth, and in view of the fact that Id is already charged up to 20 oz., and that there are comparatively few newspapers for the Commonwealth which would be over that weight, the Postmaster-General would be glad to learn that your office is now able to see its way to accept our newspapers at the same rate of postage as that charged to the United Kingdom and Canada. I have, &c b _ W. Gray, Secretary. The Secretary. Postmaster-General's Department, Melbourne.

No. 31. The Secretary, Postmaster-General's Department, Melbourne, to the Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. Commonwealth of Australia, Postmaster-General's Department, Melbourne, Sm _ 28th March, 1904. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of the 16th instant, inquiring whether cardboard packing may continue to be used on bundles of newspapers forwarded from New Zealand to the Commonwealth, and whether this Department is now able to see its way to accept such newspapers at the same rate of postage as that charged on those sent from New Zealand to the United Kingdom and Canada. These matters will receive consideration, and you will be further advised in due course. I have, &c, The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. Robt. I. Scott, Secretary.

No. 32. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Director, International Bureau, Berne. SlB __ General Post Office, Wellington, 30th March, 1904. ■ I have the honour to inform you that the London Post Office has agreed to accept, as from the Ist instant, newspapers from this colony for places in the United Kingdom prepaid at the rate of Id each irrespective of weight. I shall be obliged if you will have Postal Union offices advised in the usual way. * Secretary. The Director, International Bureau of the Universal Postal Union, Berne.

No. 33. The Hon. the Postmaster-General, Wellington, to the Secretary, General Post Office, London. g __ General Post Office, Wellington, sth April, 1904. In connection with the reduced rate of postage to Id. per newspaper, irrespective of weight for newspapers from this colony for your country, which came into force on the Ist ultimo, I have' now the honour to inform you that owing to the high transit-charges by way of San Francisco it has been found necessary to limit the weight of newspapers for despatch by that route The enclosed printed slip shows the conditions and route of despatch of newspapers intended for transmission to the United Kingdom from New Zealand. ■ Newspapers sent by the direct steamers will be separated into two divisions, London and "London forward," and the bags labelled accordingly. I have, &c, W. Gray, The Secretary, General Post Office, London. For the Postmaster-General.