RURAL MAIL DELIVERIES.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1539, 7 September 1912, Page 8

RURAL MAIL DELIVERIES.

ATTITUDE OF THE POSTAL DEPARTMENT.

The Tecent Dominion Conference of the New Zealand Farmers' Union asked that rural mail deliveries bo extended as far as possible, and that the rental of private bags be reduced when they aro delivered only twice a week. Replying to the secretary of the conference,'the Secretary of the Post and Telegraph Department has the following to say in reference to rural mail deliveries:— "I am to say! that it is impossible for the Department to do more than it is already doing in connection with suoh deliveries. For the last year or two, the Department has done its best to popularise and facilitate such deliveries. Settlers have been eomewhat slow to take the'matter up; but they now appear to bo becoming more alive to the' advantages of the system. Under the regulations, settlers requiring the benoflt of Tural deliveries are required to purchase boxes of a fixed pattern at a cost of 153. each. Mail contractors cannot at present be compelled to clear such boxes; out from January 1 next a clause will be included in inland mail- contracts requiring contractors to clear .rural delivery boxes for a fee payable by the Department of ss. per annum per box. The resolution in regard to the rental for private boxes is being dealt with separately."