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No. 10. The Right Hon. the Prime Minister to the High Commissioner. (Telegram.) Wellington, 15th April, 1914. Pacific-cable terminal rates: Dominion approves your action. It is hoped Board will not compel Dominion take any action that would disturb present friendly relations. Inform Board.

No. 11. The Right Hon. the Pbime Minister to the High Commissioner. Sib, — Prime Minister's Office, Wellington, 17th April, 1914. I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your ('able messages of the 23rd ultimo and Bth instant, as under [Nos. 8 and 9], and to confirm my reply of the 15th instant, as follows [No. 10]. I should like you to let it be understood that New Zealand is firm on this point. The expectation of the public here has been raised to the point whence the next departure is to put them in enjoyment of the lowered charges. No decision of the Board has been anticipated. I have yet to learn on what ground the vote of the Board to grant New Zealand the reduction in the rate is proposed to be rescinded. I have, &c, R. Heaton Rhodes, For the Prime Minister. The Hon. Thos. Mackenzie, F.R.G.S., High Commissioner for New Zealand, London.

WEEK-END CABLE MESSAGES. No. 12. His Excellency the Governor to the Hon. the Prime Minister, Wellington. Government House, Wellington, 10th April, 1913. The Governor desires to acquaint the Prime Minister that the following telegram, sent from Brisbane and dated the 9th April, has been received by His Excellency : — " Please communicate following to Postmaster-General: ' You may be interested to hear that we have telegraphed Secretary of State for the Colonies urging importance of more satisfactory telegraphic arrangements. Suggestions made are —First, abolition formalities deferred and week-end; second, reduction minimum length week-end from twenty-four words to twelve and telegraphic transmission throughout without extra charges; third, acceptance dictionary code-word in deferred.' If your Government takes parallel action I should be glad if you can keep me informed. Understand that conference between Government and Cable Company will be held London this week. —Vincent." The Hon. the Prime Minister, Wellington. Liverpool, Governor. [P. Sc T. 11/ I.]

No. 13. The High Commissioner to the Hon. the Prime Minister. Sir, — Westminster Chambers, 13 Victoria Street, London S.W., 22nd May, 1913. I have the honour to state that the General Post Office here, having under consideration the cable-letter services recently established between this country and Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and North America, and the probability that occasion will shortly arise for extensions of the cable-letter system both in Europe and beyond, called a meeting of the representatives of the Administrations and companies concerned to discuss the matter. This meeting took place at the General Post Office on the Bth instant, and herewith I enclose, for your information, a report of the proceedings thereat. I have, &c, The Hon. the Prime Minister, Wellington, New Zealand. Thos. Mackenzie [P. & T. 11/ I.]

Enclosure in No. 13. Week-end Cable-letter Services. —Report op Meeting at General Post Office, Bth Mat, 1913. (Sir A. F. King, X.C.8., in the chair.) Present. —Australia — Captain R. Muirhead Collins, C.M.G., R.N.; Colonial Office—Mr. G. W. Johnson, C.M.G.; Eastern Telegraph Company —Mr. W. Hibberdine; Eastern. Extension Telegraph Company —Mr. F. E. Hesse; New Zealand—Mr, C. Wray Palliser; Pacific Cable Board —Right Hon. Sir H. W. Primrose, X.C.8., C.5.1., Mr. F. J. Adye; Post Office—Mr. E. W. Farnall, C.8., Mr. F. J. Brown, Mr. J. I. De Wardt, Mr. A. W. Cross; South Africa —Mr. T. S. Nightingale; Western Telegraph Company—Mr. W. Dover; Western Union Telegraph Company -.Mr. S. J. Goddard, Mr. W. Goddard, Mr. W. J. Scott, The Chairman said that the meeting had been called to consider a means of simplifying the cable-letter services so as to make them easier to work and more attractive to the public. The

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