COMING POSTAL REFORMS.

Feilding Star, Volume I, Issue 12, 14 July 1906, Page 2

COMING POSTAL REFORMS.

INTERVIEW WITH SIR JOSEPH WARD. Sir Joseph Ward, the PostmasterGeneral of New Zealand, who has been attending the International Postal Congress at Rome, says, in an interview with Reuter, the most important decision arrived at was that to reduce all sea and land transit charges. The effect in Great Britain would be that the foreign postage rate will bo 2£d for an ounce instead of for half an ounce. It was also decided that every 20 grammes, about § ounce, after the first 20 should be charged only If d. An interesting British' proposal -for the introduction of a "reply-paid letter system " was also * adopted. Coupons will be, issued by the International Bureau at Berne to the world's post offices. These coupons will be exchanged {or stamps in any country, and will possess many of the advant* ages of an international postage stamp. Referring to the question of international penny postage, Sir Joseph Ward said that it was bound to come. Delegates representing 128,000,000 persons voted in favor of it at the Congress, the American delegates being among them. , Every country has the right to enter into an agreement with any nation for a restricted penny postage, and he foreshadowed an arrangement to this effect being arrived at shortly between Great Britain and the United States, The moment this had been'accomplished the rest of the world would have to follow suit. <