SALE OF STAMPS

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 53, 26 November 1930, Page 13

SALE OF STAMPS

Position to be Reviewed PUBLIC’S CONVENIENCE Sale of postage stamps occupied the attention of the Council of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce for some time last evening. The Chief Postmaster, Mr. J.- M. McLean, explained that the threeyearly licenses in existence had nearly run out, and when these had expired the whole position Would be reviewed. . Seventy-four per cent, of the traders selling stamps in the city at present received commission; it was purely a question of public convenience. A: letter was received from the Civic League, inviting the chamber’s co-opera-tion in asking the Postal Department to make no alteration in the present method of selling stamps. Mr.-McLean explained that there was no restriction on the sale of stamps. The position taken up by the department was that no commission would be paid where the public was not receiving accommodation. He explained that 74 per cent, of the traders selling stamps in Wellington at present were receiving commission. Mr. J. Whittaker could not see why any restriction should be placed on the sale of stamps. Mr. A. Seed thought that the department was quite right in making public convenience the main factor. The Chief- Postmaster assured the chamber that no restriction would be placed where publie convenience was concerned. Mr. S. Jacobs said it appeared to him that it might be advisable for the Postal Department to revert to their original agents, and split the commissions. He pointed out that if a clerk was sent out to purchase £lO worth of stamps an agent would take a reputable firm’s cheque, but the Postal Department would not. Was it likely, he asked, that any trader would take the risk of making a loss on the sale of stamps without receiving any commission. If a servant made a mistake in dealing out a big line of stamps, the firm would have to stand the loss. Mr. A. Seed considered the Postal Department was getting very cheap service at 2i per cent, commission. The Chief Postmaster said that if every trader in Wellington ceased to sell stamps, not one extra employee would be required in the postal service. He promised to supply the chamber with a report when the position had been reviewed after the existing three-year licenses had expired. It was decided to forward a reply to this effect to the Civic League.