THE PENNY POST.

Evening Star, Issue 11452, 21 January 1901, Page 6

THE PENNY POST.

RED TAPE AND OFFICIAL HUMBUG.

Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright.

MELBOURNE, January 20.

The ' Australasian ' says : " It is remarkable how the dog-in-the-manger policy commends itself to the oflicial mind. The postal authorities are dead against letters coming to Australia from New Zealand under the penny rate. We incur no loss by receiving suck letters, and there is no reason but one for the objection, and that is that the authorities fear the sight of the penny letters from New Zealand will contaminate or demoralise Victorians, and cause them to lose faith in the statements that are constantly made by Victorian officials that the penny postage must prove ruinous." SYDNEY. January 20. Mr Seddon has returned from Queensland. He had an interview with Mr Drake, Postmaster-General, on the question of the penny post. Mr Crick and Mr Gurr also conferred with him on the same subject. While they do not wish to depart from the decision of the Postal Conference, at the same time they are personally inclined to deliver letters.

Sir John Forrest takes over the Federal Post Office from the first of the month, and Mr Seddon is now in communication with him. If Sir John offers no objection, then the Stato-Post Office will not surcharge New Zealand letters.