F.—B

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My Board entirely agree with the Prune Minister that " ordinary traffic should not be in any case delayed on account of week-end letters." but they do not quite follow the suggestions in his letter as regards arrangements for obviating a possible block of traffic at Vancouver. They may, however, observe that for the reasons given above they would deprecate any variation of hours during which week- (>nd cable-letters may be sent as between the several countries served by the Pacific Cable Board. I am, &c, H. W. Primrose, Chairman. The High Commissioner for New Zealand. 13 Victoria Street, London S.W.

No. 10. The Hon. the Prime Minister to the High Commissioner. Sir. — Prime Minister's Office. Wellington, 21st September, 1912. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of Mr. Palliser's memorandum of the 2nd ultimo, covering copy of a letter from Sir Henry Primrose. Chairman of the Pacific Cable Board, on the subject of week-end cable-letters. In reply, I beg to inform you that the Postmaster-General has no particular objection to weekend cable-letters being posted at the cable-stations if sender,-, so desire: but. as New Zealand is not asking for any terminal charge, the postage of Id. would require to be paid. It must, however, be pointed out that under present conditions the posting of cable-letters would be most unsatisfactory, as both of our cable-stations are in more or less isolated places which are comparatively infrequently served by post. This will, however, disappear when the Pacific-cable station is removed to Auckland in the course of a few months. Sir Henry Primrose states that the Board did not quite follow the suggestions made in the Prime Minister's letter of the sth June last about arrangements for obviating a possible block of traffic at Vancouver. The suggestion was made on Mr. Baxendale's memorandum to the Board of the 21st February last. As, however, the Board would deprecate any variation of hours, the point need not be further considered. f have, &c, R. Hkaion Rhodes. For the Prime Minister The Hon. Thomas Mackenzie, Hi«_di Commissioner for New Zealand. London. rP.C. Rates 12/282.]

No. 11. The Secretary, General Post Office. Wellington, to the Manager in the Pacific Pacific Cable Board, Sydney. (Telegram.) Wellington, 11th December, 1912. Eastern Company advises commencement of week-end letters as from first January. When are you likely to advise that Pacific is taking the same action ? [P.C. Rates 13/56.]

No. 12. The Manager in the Pacific. Pacific Cable Board. Sydney, to the Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. (Telegram.) Sydney, 11th December, 1912. Re week-end letters : Received instructions from Board on Saturday last to submit scheme to Dominion and Commonwealth Governments for consent to introduce on receipt fortnight's notice of date proposed for bringing into operation- —probably first January, but details so incomplete was forced telegraph for more particulars. Reply not yet to hand. When received, will communicate Have details been arranged with Eastern, please ? fP.C. RatPS 13/50.1

No. 13. The Manager in Australasia, Eastern Extension Company, Adelaide, to the Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. The Kastcrn Extension Australasia and China Telegraph Company (Limited), Six. Adelaide, 12th December, 1912. Confirming my service message of the 9th instant [not printed], I have the honour to inform you that the conditions for the acceptance of week-end telegrams, as arranged with the British Post Office, will apply to " via Eastern " traffic between the United Kingdom and Australia and New Zealand as from the 1st January next. I have received the following information on the subject from my head office by wire, and would be obliged if you would kindly confirm the arrangement as affecting the traffic on this side : — (1.) On and after the 1st January, 1913, there will be established between the United Kingdom and Australia and New Zealand a new service of cable messages, which will be known as week-end cable-letters. (2.) These messages must be written in plain language, and will be subject to the same rules as are applicable to deferred ordinary messages. (Eastern propose to insert " English," and to add " except that if messages are posted, they cannot be sent to code-indicators, but must be fully addressed.") (3.) They must be received at a cable-office of the company not later than midnight on Saturday.