The Evening Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News, and Echo. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1900. PENNY POSTAGE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 310, 29 December 1900, Page 4

The Evening Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News, and Echo.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1900. PENNY POSTAGE.

For the cause that lacks assistance, For the ■wrong that needs resistance, For the future in the distance, And the good that we oaa do.

Xo single tiling more strikingly

illustrates the progress of the now closing- century than the building up of the world's splendid system of communication. The evolution of the palatial mail steamer; Hie discovery and perfecting of the deep-sea cable, arc; triumphs of the latter half. Hardly less wonderful, and. not secondary in importance, is the intricate organisation by VA^icli letters are delivered between all parts of the world. We in New Zealand, with the com-

mencement of the new century on Tuesday, are to enjoy one of the latest achievements of postal reform. The carriage and delivery of our letters across a hemisphere for the sum of one penny becomes the more wonderful the more it is thought about. Could anyone imagine a more striking tribute to the perfection of the complex postal machine, which not only renders this thing possible, but also payable. We think not. To be able to write to practically every country under the aegis of the British flag

for the smallest coin in common use in this colony is a boon which we

fail to properly appreciate

There1! are, unfortunately, a few anomalies which prevent our speaking of the change as an Imperial Universal penny post. While the postage to Uganda, a place more than a little difficult to get at, will be one penny, to Australia it Avill remain twopence.

This is an absurdity which we hope will shortly be overcome. All countries within the Postal Union are pledged to adopt, a rate not, exceeding 3|d for the half ounce. New Zealand and Australia agreed to charge twopence. Now our colony has decided to avail .itself' of the Act recently passed by the British Parliament; but the agrement with Australia is binding, and the Australian PostmastersCieneral are disinclined to allow us to post letters to Australia for a penny, although such a proceeding would not entail any pecuniary loss to them. There must, they say, be reciprocity. This we believe it is impossible to arrange till the subject comes before the Federal Parliament. It were unwise to prophesy what that body will do; but the postage question will early come under its consideration, and it is not too much to hope that Australia will inarch with the times. For the present it will be well for everyone in conducting his or her correspondence to remember that though letters may for a penny be sent anywhere in New Zealand, and almost to any part of the Empire, the rate to Australia remains twopence.

A reduction in postal cards, in parcel ])ost rates, and the establishment of an express messenger delivery, are, other innovations Jn connection with our post office, which come into force with the New Year, and which will doubtless t prove of general public

advantage.