THE PENNY POST.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXII, Issue 17, 21 January 1901, Page 3

THE PENNY POST.

/' ATTITUDE OF AUSTRALIA.

MELBOURNE, January 20. The-"Australasian" says: "It is remarkable how a dog-in-the-manger policy commends itself to the official mind;. The postal authorities are dead against. letters coming to Australia from New Zealand under the penny rate. We incur no loss by receiTing sucn letters, and there is no reason but one fo.v the objection, and that is that the atlthorities fear that the sight of penny letters from New Zealand would contaminate or tiemoralise the Victorians, and cause them to lose faith in the statements tonstantly made by Victorian officials that penny postage must prove rumjous. SYDNEY, January 20. Mr. Seddon, on his return from :Quensland, had an interview with Mr. Drake, the Postmaster-General, on. the question of the penny post. Mr. Crick and Mr. Gurr also conferred on the same subject. \Vhile they do not wish to depart from the decision of the Postal Conference, they are, at the same time, personally inclined to deliver letters. Sir John Forrest takes over the Federal Post Office on the first of the month. Mr. .Seddon is now in communication with him. If he offers no objection then the State Post Office will' not surcharge New Zealand letjtera.