THE POST OFFICE.

Manawatu Times, Volume LXV, Issue 957, 8 March 1910, Page 4

THE POST OFFICE.

We have recently had comparisons between the New South Wales railways and those of New Zealand derogatory to the latter (though not so with Victorian railways) ami Mr Roydhonse, au old New Zealander long a prominent resident of Sydney, was assuring us yesterday that there would be a great deal for Mr Millar •to learn from New South Wales railway arrangements. This is to soine extent true, but there is one department in which New Zealand has long been ahead of the Jommonwealth aud that is the Postal Department. The new features which are being introduced as » result of the Secretary's tour and the Postmaster'• General's investigations are likely to send it still further ahead. We have not only led in the matter of penny postage and sixpenny telegrams and telephone mattorb, but the new rural postal boxes which are to be at the disposal ot farmers aud iu connection with which a special rural postal delivery on bicyoles and

horses will be instituted will form a further advance in itself. The daily rural delivery is one of the new and strong features by which the United States endeavours b make the farmer's lot include more urban conveniences. Then there aie improvements in the abolition of unnecessary date stamping of letters at the intermediate office, the abolition of envelopes by a self-sealing telegrapli form, the improved system of parcels arrangements, etc. All these things are to be done and yet effoot economies amounting to £20,000; and Sir Joseph Ward claims that our offioes of the postal department will bo ahead of any similar department in the world.