SOME ANOMALIES

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 7, 8 July 1938, Page 10

SOME ANOMALIES

AUCKLAND OPINIONS

SOUTH ISLAND PENALISED

Although the saving in time and expense which will result from the new mail service was favourably commented up on by Auckland business men, some criticism wasr expressed of apparent anomalies arising from Mr. Savage's announcement, states the "New Zealand Herald" of today. It was pointed out that a letter sent from Auckland to London would cost ljd for each half-ounce, but an urgent dispatch carried by the internal air service to make the connection would cost at least 2£d. As outgoing first-: class mails were almost invariably dispatched from either Auckland or Wellington, it was stated that people in the South Island using the internal air mail for overseas correspondence would be unfairly penalised.

A further anomaly under the new system was that a letter may be sent from New Zealand to London for lsd a half-ounce, but a .letter of equal weight sent by air from Auckland to any other part of the Dominion would apparently still cost 2d.

"The additional charge of Id for the use of the internal air mail service to connect with outgoing steamers is, in my opinion, utterly inconsistent with the general system of postal rates ruling throughout the world," said Mr. A. G. _ Lunn, president of the Associated Chambers of Commerce of New Zealand. "So that no particular town | might benefit on account of favourable geographical position, a fiat rate should \ be imposed for internal and external! mails." CONNECTIONS AT SYDNEY. The fact that so far no guarantee had been given to New Zealand that! a definite connection would be made with a specific mail from Sydney was mentioned by Mr. H. W. Shackleford, chairman of the Auckland branch of the United Kingdom, Manufacturers and the New Zealand Representatives' Association. Considerable sums, he said, were expended in the despatch of mail at x the present rate of Is 6d a half-ounce. There would be a very great increase in the amount of mail carried under the, new charge, even if the same amount was spent as at present. Under the lower charges, however, it might be almost impossible at first for postal officials to gauge the amount • forthcoming for dispatch by any particular mail.

"The Government must make sure that mail dispatched from this country will be carried on from Sydney and not held over," said Mr. Shackleford. "Otherwise the whole value of the service may be vitiated."

With a'two-way air-mail service and the consequent savings of approximately 28 days, Mr. Shackleford continued, it was probable there would be a saving in bank charges to importers, as the time saved should restilt in the reduction of interest on discounted bills. While some might object to paying extra on unimportant correspondence, the obvious advantages should surely make,all prepared to contribute towards such a progressive scheme.

That British manufacturers would be greatly assisted was emphasised by several business men. The. exchange of samples, it was pointed out, would be possible to a degree nojt realised under the present air-mail charges, and the result could only be a stimulus to trade generally.

A possible threat to Empire shipping was also mentioned by a local importer, who stated that, with all firstclass mail being dispatched by the airmail route, the subsidies paid by the New Zealand Government to British shipping interests might be largely eliminated. ,