PARCELS FOR SOLDIERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16580, 2 July 1917, Page 4

PARCELS FOR SOLDIERS.

RATES OF POSTAGE. Is reply to complaints of the alleged raising of the postage rates on parcels to New Zealand sofdiers, tho Acting-Post. master-General, the Hon. W. D. S. lilacDonald, mado the following statement " The fact lias frequently been mado public that, for the assistance of rela lives and friends of soldiers' parcels have been fixed so low an to bo unremunerative. and, in fact, to involve a loss to the Government on every parcel fowarded. Tho rates were long ago fixed at Is, 2?, and 3s for parcels up to 31b, 71b, and llib, respectively, whether addressed to soldiers or nurses of "British, New Zealand, Australian, or other colonial, or allied troops on active service in any part of tho world. It was only with the sympathetic assistance of other Governments that such low rates could be attained. The statement that parcels of the weight of 4!b were at any time- sent for Is is a mistaken one. The rates have never been lower than at present; and the ■ charge for a 41b parcel lias never been less than 2s. " Owing to the difficult/In securing tho necessary space on the steamers conveying the Expeditionary Force mails, the Government decided that the maximum weight of a parcel for a member of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force should be reduced from 111b to 71b; and the reduction took effect from April 16 lasi. Seven pounds was already the maximum weight, in accordance with the British regulations, for parcels addressed to members of the British forces — distinct from the Dominion forces—in. France."