PENNY POSTAGE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 20 June 1932, Page 8

PENNY POSTAGE

MINISTER’S 'STATEMENT

A reply to statements made tlmt the 1 increase to twopenny postage, was a | mistake was made by the Hon A. Ham- ! ilton, Postmast-Gencral, in His address at tlio official opening of the new ’ Post Office in High street, Christchurch. , The -Minister also referred to the Prespa sure at present being brought, to hear ~ on the Department to make a reduction i in telephone rentals. “There have been statements made , that the increase to twopenny postage i was a mistake. I want to contradict them,” said the Minister. “The advance was made to increase the revenue, so as to compensate in some measure for the decreased return from Customs and other sources. It did bring iu revenue and my Department was able to pay over to the Consolidated Fund about £994,000 which was of great assistance in easing the burden created by other fallings off. “Such a method of securing revenue was not one to be pressed, however,” lie continued. /‘So the rate has been reduced to one penny again. The reduction had not been made as the result of pressure of public opinion. As a matter of fact there was more pressure being exerted to reduce telephone rental charges than there had been to revert to penny postage. I think that when the announcement of reversion to it was announced the public was agree-, ably surprised. “The Post Office is a Department which lias a monopoly and that being so it would not be right to use it to exert too.much pressure in the way of increases. The object is to provide a service at as cheap rates as possible. It is true that taxation is apt to hurt business if pressed too far. “In regard to pressure being brought to bear to have telephone rentals reduced. I aSk that you do not press us too hard in that respect or you will take away revenue which would possibly make it hard for us to balance our * Budget. Let the Department consider the whole question with care. We are looking into the matter of course, but we do not want to go too far in tlmt direction. It is realised that farmers and business and professional people are finding difficulty in paying fixed charges and so every endeavour will he made to see if an easing of the burden can he arranged,” the Minister concluded.