THE PARCEL POST.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 250, 22 October 1928, Page 4

THE PARCEL POST.

TREND OF THE TIMES. AX AMERICAN VIEW. While the Foreign Trade Bureau of the Merchants' Association of New York admits that an increasingly large use is each year being made of the internaticnal parcels post, it asserts that many traders with foreign countries are not yet alive to all the changes the development of this modern system of shipments is bringing about in foreign trade. The importance of the international parcel post as a factor in the foreign trade of the United States is emphasised in a study recently completed by the bureau. "Statistics." it says, "indicate that foreign exporters have beaten the Americans to an appreciation of the possibilities of the service. A prudent regard for competition demands that the American exporter take careful stock of the opportunities offered him by the post office department."

Continuing, the bureau says: "In the last few years this method of shipment has had an enormous growth. In 1913 2,831,5121b of merchandise was dispatched from-- this country by parcel post. By 1922 the parcel post exports had risen to 30,980,4851b, and last year the figure jumped to 43,107,6881b.

"When this service was fust inaugurated 111b was the common weight limit, with the corresponding restriction as to size of packages. At present approximately 86 countries and colonics have a weight limit of 221b, and one country, Germany, exchanges parcel post packages with the United States weighing up to 441b. Shipments having a limit of 501b may be sent to United States possessions.

"Perhaps the chief advantage of using the mails lies in the greater speed and promptness of this service as compared with other carriers. Spccial delivery service is available for parcel post in Alaska, Panama, Porto Rico. Philippine Islands and Hawaii. The most recent addition to the service is the air mail. This fast service is available not only in this country, but also in almost all parts of Europe and in some parts of South America and is being extended rapidly all over the World.

"In addition to the time factor, the great advantage of this method of shipping is that the post offices of every city and town in the country act as forwarding agents. To a great many shippers, especially those not located at shipping ports, this facility is not only a great convenience and a time-saver, but it is the simplest means by which merchandise of small bulk can be shipped. The use of the parcel post obviates the need for an agent in the port of entry, as is necessary when making consolidated shipments composed of a number of small packages for several consignees."