The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED DAILY. SATURDAY, FEB, 28, 1931. A RASH THROW WITH THE REVENUE NET!

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXII, Issue 11452, 28 February 1931, Page 4

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED DAILY. SATURDAY, FEB, 28, 1931. A RASH THROW WITH THE REVENUE NET!

It, was widely anticipated that the threatened increases in postal and telegraphic charges would he substantial, but nobody could have imagined that they would prove, as drastic as has been decided upon. The public, we believe, Were prepared for at least 50 per cent, increase in the mailing rate on letters. Bug they cannot bo expected to accept joyously the doubling of the existing minimum rate. As regards the. increase by 100 per cent. on the minimum inland newspaper rate, that is plainly a mistaken move; It will affect mainly the settler off the beaten'track who, at the present time can ill afford any increased charge of any kind. Seemingly, .this decision was roachcd by way. of a reprisal against those newspaper firms —mostly' city firms—which do not today give the Railways Department and the Postal Department anything like .as much transport business as was the case.prior to the advent of fast motor transport. The newspaper firms concerned will, no doubt,, reply that they found that they could get much more expeditious service by motor cars. It so happens that somo firms have established., fleets of motor cars and buses which constitute serious rivals to both tho Departments concerned. The irony of ..the. position however, is that the firms which; the Government lias chiefly in fuind are to-day practically independent of the State services ! Such ,bcihg. tlie casq, the reprisal will, in. the main, be hurtful ’apparently, lea,st intended. Indeed, on© may anticipate t-haf additional newspaper firms will now establish their own motor' services in order to keep - down th© oost

of tboir papers at moro or less distant points. There is, perhaps, some justification for the Department’s decision to restrict the. maximum. size .of parcels that may be sent through the post. For till.that, the extent of the ‘ proposed reduction would stand rednvestigation. The Department’s decision, as it. now stands, will b< ..welcomed by- motor companies. Some of the most amazing alterations in the rates are); unquestionably, in the section relating to increased telegraphic charges. It is impossible ,to believe that the Department will gain by raising the minimum charge to Is. for 12 words and an extra peppy for each additional, word. Miorp will also bo much less business so far as urgent telegrams jafq concerned if the decision to charge double the rates mentioned is retained. ’ (Gan it bo that the Government does hot realise that what yd 11 happen in the case of its telegraphic business will'iiot be dissimilar frqm its’experienco as a result of having lately increased railway fares and freights?) On the other hand no serious exception should bo taken to the increase in- tho letter telegram rate, which, at. the raised charge, will continue to be a boon. Th 9. newspaper proprietors arq up in arms over the limitation that is to bo placed on the aggregate number of words which they may receive at-press rates. It would seem, however, that the new * regulations differ somewhat from the summary that Was originally sent out in that cable and wireless news are. excepted from the restrictions as to aggregates, the limits applying only to inland and Parliamentary news. Bui tho maximum aggregate at presi rates is to bo the same whether the House is or is not in session. As newspapers will not ho keen on cutting do\vn inland news messages one effect must bo tho shortening of messages dealing with tho proceedings of Parliament! This step is likely to cause, most annoyance to Parliamentarians whoso remarks, in the future will not be given such extensivo prominence throughout tho Dominion. What is more, the Government will soon find that many of its own messages to the people which to-day are transmitted at press rates will not he acceptable unless they are prepaid, as, has all along been the case in respect of official messages running into great length.