MAGAZINE POSTAGE

Greymouth Evening Star, 31 August 1920, Page 2

MAGAZINE POSTAGE

HIGH INCREASES RESENTED, ACTION BY BOOKSELLERS. In these days when the printing presses of the world are pouring forth a constant stream of literature of all classes the magazine with its plates and pictures, its bright and breezy stories, or its fund of solid information is as much a necessity as a luxury. At all events a great many people especially in the country districts, would feel it a distinct hardship if they were compelled to give up.their favourite magazine with its welcome budget of news from the great outside world. Yet this is a result which the increased cost of the magazines themselves, but more particularly the very much enhanced postage rates which were recently imposed, seem to be conspiring to bring about. At a recent meeting of the booksellers' section of the Otago Employers' Association it was decided to forward the following letter to the Post-master-general (the Hon. J. G. Coates) on the" subject:—"We beg to draw your attention to (he grave injustice which has been imposed by the new rates of postage upon the purchasers of magazines, particularly those who reside"in the country districts and are entirely dependent upon delivery by mail. The new rates also imposed a very heavy tax upon parcels of books, etc., sent to country schools, for example 8d postage was required a few days ago for a parcel of six threepenny exercise books. It is quite recognised that additional revenue is necessary, but the increased postage rate for registered magazines is so entirely out of proportion to the increased rates for letters and _ newspapers as to be almost prohibitive, and already its affect is being felt in a large number of notifications of discontinuance which have been received by booksellers from magazne subscribers. It is probable therefore that as a result there will be a de- < rease of revenue from this' source. While the pre-war rate for letters and newspapers has been doubled the rate for registered magazines lias in most cases been quadrupled, as the following instances show. —

It is respectfully suggested that these anomalies should be removed and the increase in magazine rates made proportionate to the charges for other parcels." It has been further arranged that a deputation shall wait uii the _ Post-master-general in Wellington with respect to the whole matter.

Pre-war. , >,ew Kai 1/ «/ 1/ c 'l Popular Mechanics 2/ 6/ 2/ 6/ Ladies' Home Journal 2/6 10/ Motion Pictures — 1/ 4/ 6d 2/