RURAL MAI SERVICE

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLI, Issue XLI, 15 October 1921, Page 10

RURAL MAI SERVICE

THE DEPARTMENT'S CASE. '

Speaking to a deputation at Wariganui, Mr. McNamara, Second Assistant ■' Secretary of the Department, • said that inquiries had been made in the United States and Canada. In Australia—a progressive country—there were no rural deliveries. They would not touch them, as they considered they i were ruinous. In Canada they regretted that they had started them, because i they cosl so much. As far as New Zfca- i land was concerned the Post Office had * to pay its way. They were endeavouring to do so, but if all the concessions asked were granted, it could not be done. They wanted the postal work to develop. They got 20 to 30 requisitions a day for more rural deliveries. The present scheme was put before the Government after careful consideration and adopted. They knew that objections were being raised all over the country. In the cities they gave a twice daily delivery because they could not afford a single delivery. The reason was to get rid of the stuff. If they did not do that it would take the men more time, and the accumulation would be greater. They were anxious that it should not be made a town against country question. A largo number of ihe people in

the town had private boxes and paid for them. The rural deliveries were to serve the country people, and the Department wanted to continue them. They were losing £5000 a jear on them and penalising the country people £3600 on it. IF people wanted a rural delivery steps were taken, and a bond was signed, but often the bondsman had to pay it. They had resolutions from all over the country asking them to abolish the system- of* subsidy for a system where everybody pays. They 'were losing on the rural districts that they had. At a charge of £2 the Department would not make any money, but only just meet the expenses. £2 a year was only 13-6"d a day for a good delivery, which would also bring the paper, and parcels from town. The service had to pay its way. In a few cases there was ar smalj, profit, but in dozens of cases there was a big shortage. They would be surprised if they knew the loss on some. A large number of deliveries had no prospect of paying at £2 and £1. But if farmers were having a bad time, the Post Office also was, but it was difficult to curtail expenditure. They would be surprised to know that telegrams over the counter at Wellington had dropped 1000 a day, and they could not reduce the staff. They were paying higher wages than in former years. They could not make the Department, pay if concessions were grant cd. One was costing £50,000 a year? | Wireless was costing several thousands I a year, but that was an insurance. Several of. the rural mail deliveries extended into the backblocks where the average number of letters carried was one »,*'<**• They had also extended the tKriephones to the backblocks. They had to ask for 50 per cent, before they could go ahead, as contracts .for delivery had to be signed, and they had to have some idea of the cost. As far as suburban areas were concerned a man living near a suburb could put a box at the last street free. Some point had pi be fixed where a rural delivery started and they had fixed it at a quarter of a mile outside a township It [had been said that they had gained by closing post offices, but they were pre ; pared to go back, as tfiey-coTlld show a ; better financial position. They were prepared to give post offices without rural deliveries, or vice versa. It was no use an offer of £1 a year being made, as they would lose thousands of pounds a year. The Post Office had to P*y. In some localities they could not stop the delivery without being harsh. ln one instance the revenue was £10 and the lowest contract price was £60 That was a case of isolated settlers' in another instance they were paying a postmistress £200 a year, and the revenue was £79. The wish of the Department was to do the best they^ould for the farmers and back-blocks men They wanted to treble the mail services. They now had 269 in New Zealand. In two postal districts there was no deIlrery. They were not wanting to make money out of it. It was the volume of business in the cities which forced them to give a number of deliveries in order ?/£? t he stuff- In Wellington they had 90 odd letter carriers. They would i not deliver to on e house in a street I but the moment there were six or seven !«*?• »ey, were £lad to serve them. |H New Zealand was closely settled like it would be a different matter