N.Z. PENNY POSTAGE

Evening Post, Volume 91, Issue 91, 15 October 1923, Page 8

N.Z. PENNY POSTAGE

COMMONWEALTH ACCEPTANCE.

HavmS examined the complete scale of New Zealand postal charges introduced on Ist October, the Poßtmaster-Gen-eral (Mr. Gibson) has decided to reverse his previous decision not to accept letters bearing the Dominion penny postage (states "Melbourne Argus" of sth October). Ihe Commonwealth's decision to accept the New Zealand rate, which is a halfpenny lower than the initial charge for letters in Australia, was formally notified to the New Zealand Ministry yesterday. Mr. Gibson conferred with the ActingPrime Minister (P r . Page) on the mat ter, and also considered the views of the officials of the Postal Department, who, it is believed, strongl> urged that the New Zealand rate should not be acl cepted. When Mr. Gibson previously decided not to accept the new rate, he was aosent from Melbourne, and consequently he did riot have access to the official hies relating to the matter. One of the important reasons which influenced Mr. Gibson in deciding to reverse his decision was that the Commonwealth did not refuse to accept the New Zealand lid postage when the Commonwealth rale was 2d. The reduction in the New postage to l£d was made on Ist February, which was several days before the Bruce-Page Ministry assumed office. It was some time after the new Ministry was in office that it was decided to reduce the Australian letter postage to l^d an ounce.

"I have examined the relationship of the New Zealand l£d postage to the Commonwealth 2d rate," said Mr. Gibson last night, "and I think we can reasonably accept the Id postage. It in quite logical in the present case to accept the same conditions as obtained previously. Under the terms of the International Postage Convention, • it is possible for any two countries to enter into an arrangement for accepting postal charges quite independently of the other countries represented in the Postal Union. Such arraneements, of course, can be made only with the consent of the countries concerned. The New Zealand Id postage applies only to inland postage in the Dominion, and to countries in the British Empire. I have investigated tho complete scale of postal charges which operated in New Zealand on Ist October, and have found that the only alterations made are in respect to letters and postcards. The rates for commercial papers, books, and other postal matter are the same as they were previously. I have been a little apprehensive that a quantity of printed matter might have been posted in New Zealand for distribution in the Commonwealth."

In commenting on the altered decision, the "ATgus" says:—Reconsideration by the Po6t-niaster-<3eneral of his original intention not to deliver New Zealand letters at the reduced rate of postage has saved Australia from the charge of being churlish and unneighbourly. With a commendable regard for the public good that might well be an example to the Commonwealth, the Government of the Dominion has reduced postage within the Empire to one penny. The other parts of the Empire, with the exception of Australia, have readily agreed to cooperate with New Zealand in this enterprise. Australia had no valid reason to offer for turning the cold shoulder upon her nearest neighbour. The Postal authorities could not say that cheaper New Zealand postage would operate to the financial disadvantage of the Commonwealth. In .fact, if the assumption that a letter dispatched means a letter returned be correct, we will be more likely to gain. Still, in a crabbed Bpirit, they advised against complying withrthe request of New Zealand. The Postr-" master-General has acted wisely in abandoning this petty position, and it is to be hoped that the first unfavourable impressions created in New Zealand when the earlier policy was announced will be speedily removed by his decision.