§ MR. HENNTKER HEATON (Canterbury)I beg to ask the Postmaster General whether he is now in a position to state the cause of the delay in calling for tenders for the Australian mail contract; whether it is true that he has extended the present Australian mail contract; if so, on what terms and for what period; whether any representative of the British Post Office attended the New Zealand Conference, or whether the negotiations are being carried on entirely with the Agents General; whether it is the intention of the Postmaster General to hold a special Conference on the question with the Representatives of the Australian Governments; and whether he has any objection to state the date when official communications were commenced with the Australian Governments regarding the terms of the proposed new contracts?
§ MR. A. MORLEYThe resolutions of the Brisbane Conference on this subject were communicated to the Imperial Post Office on the 5th of June, 1893, since which date I have been in direct communication with the Colonial Post Offices and the contractors, and have arranged, with the consent of the Wellington Conference, expressed through the President, to prolong the existing service for one year on present terms, that is up to the 31st of January, 1896, in order that full time might be given for the consideration of all the points raised by the colonies. I am now awaiting the arrival by post of the full text of the resolutions of the Wellington Conference, at which I was not represented; and until the full text comes I cannot say whether a Conference with Australian representatives will be necessary.