Details

Autograph letter dated from the Melbourne Club checking on how things are going in London as he has been asked to stop off in Bombay on his way home by the Governor of Bombay, Sir George Clarke, who was Secretary of the Defence Committee and sat on the Army Reorganization Committee. Sir George will pay a large fee which would be helpful as the Australia trip is not going to leave much profit, but Merz would rather head back to England. He describes meeting various Victoria politicians, including Swinburne who is the son of a Wallsend brassfounder. He has had a meeting with the Postmaster General to discuss what interference could be caused to the telegraph system by electrification of the railways. Later additions to the letter on receiving confirmation of the postponement of the debenture issue and decision not to stop at Bombay unless they can finish up in Australia a week early, but Merz reluctant to ask for early termination of contract.