PROHIBITIVE.

Northern Advocate, 30 January 1922, Page 8

PROHIBITIVE.

NEWSPAPER POSTAGE

KATES TO FOREIGN COUNTRIES,

MELBOURNE, Jan. 21,

Steps are being taken by the Post-master-General (Mr Poynton) to bring about a revision of the exorbitant postage rr.tes on newspapers sent .to foreign countries.

Mr Poynton, who returned from Adelaide to-day, admitted that the new rates which came into operation on January 1 were prohibitive. Under the agreement readied at the Madrid Postal Convention newspapers were classified as printed papers, and the "postage rates decided upon were greatly in excess of the charge then ruling. The jjostage to places within the British Empire was not interfered with. The serious effect which the increased charges would have on the sending of Australian periodicals and newspapers to foreign countries was apparently not realised until the new schedule was enforced. "The circulation of Australian newspapers in foreign countries has not only been interfered with,'' he said, '' but the circulation of foreign papers, particularly from America, will certainly be restricted, because the rates agreed upon at Madrid have been made uniform throughout the world. As a medium for assisting immigration the "wide circulation of Australian newspapers in foreign countries is desirable." Mr Poynton said to-day that the new lates were not enforced with the idea of obtaining increased revenue, and he had communicated w-ith the parties to the Madrid Convention with a view to arranging for special rates for mewspapers, so that they will not be charged •for as printed papers. He has also -entered into ; negotiations with the United States to make a reciprocal arrangement for the postage of newspapers. If favourable replies were received the new rates would be enforced immediately. Tt is understood that an effort will be soede to revert to the postage charges previously made on newspapers