PARCEL POSTAGE

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 66, 10 December 1938, Page 12

PARCEL POSTAGE

Increase In Rates From Monday LOWER “FRAGILE” SCALE Minimum Charge For Small Packets Increases in the rates of postage for inland parcels were announced yesterday by the PostmasterGeneral, Mr. Jones. Ihe Minister said that the decision to increase the rates followed that of the Railwavs Department to increase railwav parcel rates. It was necessary to ensure that there was no transfer of parcel business to the post from the rail. The now rates, which will commence on Monday, are as follows: — Exist- Troing posed Weight. charges, charges.

.Mr. Jones said it was true that at some steps the increase was somewhat in excess of 10 per cent., but this adjustment was necessary because of the fact that the majority of the parcels handled by the Post Office were required to be carried over long distances, and that in the higher categories of weight these did not pay. The old charges were introduced early in 1936, and the hope that by fixing them low the Post Office would secure business over short as well as over long distances had not been realized. The opportunity had been taken to bring New Zealand procedure into line with that of other British countries in fixing a minimum charge for small packets. In future the ininjmum charge for small packets would be 2d. An adjustment had also been made in the charges for cinematograph films sent by post, the increase being in sympathy with the increase in the ordinary parcel rates. Mr. Jones said that it had sometimes been complained that the Post Office charge of 1/- and 1/6, according to size, for fragile parcels were too high. This complaint was being met by a reduction to 6d. and 1/-. '“I have had an opportunity,” said the Minister, “of comparing the new rates with the rates levied for parcels in other comparable British countries, and I have satisfied myself that they are still low for the service given, a service which is Dominion-wide at rates which include free delivery and the payment of compensation up to a reasonable limit in the event’of loss or damage.”

s. d. s. d. Over 141b. and up to 31b. 0 6 0 7 Over 31b. and up to 71b. 1 0 1 Over 71b. and up to 141b. 1 6 1 p Over 141b. and up to 211b. 0 - 4 Over 211b. and up to 281b. 6 3 0