Subsidised postage rates to go

Press, 12 October 1988, Page 2

Subsidised postage rates to go

By

PAM MORTON

Several Christchurch organisations may have to scrap their newsletters and magazines because of an increase in postal charges by New Zealand Post. The present 50 per cent discount on registered magazines and newsletters will be phased out by the corporation by September 30, 1989. Several groups approached yesterday said the removal of the discount could lead to fewer newsletters being sent, or in some cases dropped altogether. More than 8000 organisations nationally will be affected by the decision. The manager of the Christchurch Disabled Persons’ Centre, Mr Graeme Stanley, said the decision might lead to a “dramatic rethink on the newsletter.” About 5000 newsletters a year were sent by his organisation to its members. “It could mean we have to put up our membership fees which have been kept deliberately low because the people we represent are either on low incomes or a

benefit,” he said. “Another alternative is joining forces with other people and putting out a joint newsletter.” The director of the Canterbury Multiple Sclerosis Society, Mr Barry Hawkins, said axing of the scheme would double his organisation’s postal bill. The revenue lost by New Zealand Post last year through subsidising the scheme was $lO million, said the manager of New Zealand Post’s mail services in Christchurch, Mr Alistair Gardner. Although organisations were receiving a 50 per cent discount it still cost the corporation the same amount to process as ordinary mail, he said. "The original subsidies were given as newspapers and magazines were the only form of communication,” he said. After September 30, 1989, concessions will be available only on a bulk posting of 3000 copies at any one time. Mr Gardner said if the mail was presorted into post mail branches there would be a discount of 20 per cent, or 15 per cent if sorted into centres.