Stamp machines to go

Press, 22 February 1978, Page 6

Stamp machines to go

Christchurch, with other centres, will eventually lose most of its stamp-vending machines. Vandalism, and the machines’ unsuitability to deal with the new postage rates, were the main reasons given by the PostmasterGeneral (Mr Wilkinson) for their phasing out. "They were robust machines, but in spite of this the Post Office is finding it increasingly difficult to maintain them in service because of vandalism and misuse,” said Mr Wilkinson. “Machines are frequently

put out of action through having pins, washers, sticks, and foreign coins inserted in them.” The cost of servicing the machines and repairing wilful damage was high, and was often out of proportion to their use. In future, vending machines would be installed only at key points such as main post offices, particularly in tourist areas, and in hospitals. “These places will be catered for by installing 5c machines to complement the 1c and 2c equipment already in use,” Mr Wilkinson said.

The machines, which were invented by a New Zealander in 1904, could accept either a 1c or 2c piece, depending on the design. They could not easily be modified to accept a higher value coin and issue a stamp of the same value, Mr Wilkinson said. The Chief Postmaster at Christchurch (Mr J. C. Smith) said that vandalism with the machines had been “a constant cause cf concern.” The machines would be phased out gradually, Mr Smith said.