"TONIC TO COMMUNITY."

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 135, 9 June 1932, Page 7

"TONIC TO COMMUNITY."

PENNY POSTAGE RATE. BUSINESS PEOPLE RESPONDING INCREASE IN PARCELS. "After a week's trial, I can speak only in general terms, but indications are certainly favourable," said Mr. S. M. Harrison, chief postmaster at Auckland, in commenting to-day oil the business done since the return to penny postage. Mr. Harrison said he had received letters from city firms, expressing their appreciation of the action of the Government in thus reducing postage rates, and also many verbal messages expressing the same thought. This fact, he thought, was an indication that those and other firms intended to use the post again in the future more than they had done in tha past.

The posting of letters which had once been delivered would require some alteration in the internal organisation of business houses, and that would take time. Added to that the depression was a factor which would weigh against any immediate increase in business, but the letters he had received were straws in the wind. He did not think that the delivering of certain letters, particularly accounts, had such a habit that firms would continue mi it despite the cheaper rates.

The increase in mail matter handled was, perhaps, more noticeable in the parcels post than in the other sections, said Mr. Harrison. Though the reduced rates were only a week old there was a marked difference in tlio number of parcels handled. Firms with a large mail order business had been quick to take advantage of the, offer.

The effect 011 purely private postings was slower, as had been expected. Letters of that sort came from sucli a wide area, and were influenced by factors so different from those in the world of commerce that it would be some time before any difference would be marked.

"When the need for revenue became urgent," added Mr. Harrison, "the Government looked to the Post and Telegraph to do its share. That was the reason for the alteration of rates in the first place. It was in an effort to meet the times that the Government had reduced the scale again. The letters I have spoken of seem to indicate that the business community is going to meet the Department in tlio same spirit as the Department met it. It has been quite a tonic to the community."