§ Major ARCHER-SHEEasked the Postmaster-General if, in view of the fact that the Australian Government are fully cognisant of the effect of the new telegraph rates on traffic, there is any necessity for delay in replying to their dispatch of July last, asking that a subsidiary conference should be called to consider the question of laying a State-owned Atlantic cable; and whether the Australian Government, which is now supported by the New Zealand Government in this request, have got the same right to demand that this conference should be held as the United Kingdom would have should His Majesty's Government be in favour of this proposal?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELThe reply was despatched last week. There has never been any suggestion of questioning the right of the Australian Government to ask for the summoning of a subsidiary 519W conference, but the holding of such a conference is a matter to be settled in concert by the several Governments represented upon the imperial Conference. No information has been received from the New Zealand Government to the effect suggested in the question.