Parcel Rates To Egypt

Northern Advocate, 19 February 1940, Page 6

Parcel Rates To Egypt

[Per Press Association. Copyright.] DUNEDIN, This Day. The Postmaster-General, in response to an inquiry, intimated that he was not yet in a position to announce any reduction in the present postage rates for parcels forwarded from New Zealand to the troops in Egypt. Mr Jones explained that before any appreciable reduction in charges could be granted it was necessary to reach finality in conversations which had been proceeding for some time with the Egyptian Government. The aim of these conversations was to effect a reduction in the charges normally made by the country of destination in respect of post parcels and to have the overseas administration agree to a departure in respect of gifts forwarded to soldiers from the procedure normally followed of levying Customs duty on all articles of the kind entering a country. The public could rest assurred, Mr Jones said, that every endeavour was being made to facilitate the discussions, and that at the earliest possible moment a full announcement would be made. Mr Jones added that the same difficulty, that of reaching an agreement with the overseas authorities, applied in the case of cable messages to members of the New Zealand forces in Egypt. The Minister appreciates that the ordinary rate to Egypt is high, and the Government is making every endeavour to secure an agreement to a new arrangement under which it should be possible to offer to the public here a very much cheaper rate.