Chamber Upset By Airmail Charge

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31052, 6 May 1966, Page 5

Chamber Upset By Airmail Charge

The Christchurch chief postmaster (Mr M. E. Wilson) has advised the postal committee of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce that in the new classifications there is still a second-class airmail rate for printed papers.

But in the new classification, commercial papers are excluded from the airmail schedule. This information was reported to the monthly meeting of the chamber on Wednesday evening by the chairman of the postal committee (Mr J. Stewart). Mr Stewart said that a member had advised the chamber’s April council meeting that he was concerned that the second-class overseas airmail, to all intents and purposes, had been discontinued, with a consequent Increase in postal rates for such articles as accounts, on which letter rates now had to be paid. The member had submitted two examples of mail received from South Africa which apparently had been carried at the old rate, but which the member claimed would have attracted the new higher rate if they had been posted in New Zealand. Another member had said that he had received mail from the United States to which the same comments would apply. Mr Stewart said that Mr Wilson had pointed out that the new postal classifications had been agreed upon by the Universal Postal Union. As a member of the union, New Zealand was bound bv the agreement. Mr Wilson had said he was surprised that the United

States would fail to observe such rulings. Though the case of South Africa might be different, he believed that that country also was a participating member of the U.P.U.

On examples shown by a committee member, Mr Wilson said such articles could be covered by the printed paper rate if posted in this country and would thus still be carried as second-class airmail. Mr Stewart said that Mr Wilson had confirmed that under the new classifications, invoices, bills of lading, original accounts, and so on, would only be carried by airmail if postage were prepaid at the letter rate.

One committee member contended that because of geographical location, New Zealand businessmen were largely forced to use airmail services and were thus being penalised by this ruling.

The. chamber decided on further investigations.