PENNY LETTER POST.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18497, 6 September 1923, Page 8

PENNY LETTER POST.

INOiftlbN ON-OCTOBER i/.y ' ' ll * w - r * - - HALFPENNY FOR POSTCARDS . " i ' ,- ~ LOWER RATES FOR PACKETS, CONCESSION ON MAGAZINES .[BT telegraph.—press association.] ,-.'-■■■, ' :.WELLTNGTON, .Wcdneaaaj. ."'" A return to penny postage for letters un October 1 was announced by the Hon. J. G. Coates); the Postmaster-General, to- :.''; : day* the. course of the following state- ■ mSai-i-rr-■'■'' Mi - ■'?■;■; 'I'".. *■ -Postage rates for letters, postcards, in--1 land packets and newspapers were reduced v from February 1 last. Each of these rates, : with the exception of the newspaper rato, which is now at bedrock ':■ (id),' will be further reduced in October. In addition, the magazine rato will be reduced. y_ '■•■;■'' As I announced in December last, it was hoped to reintroduce at an.early date-the penny, letter rates, birj. the financial position was such that m February the department was unablo to recommend a rate than lid.v After carefully reviewing the financial position it was decided,. as announced •in the Budget, to reintroduce penny postage. . . ■' The penny rate will apply to letters addressed for delivery. in New Zealand, all parts of the British Empire and those ' foreign countries the letter rate for: which is now lid. The New Zealand Post Office is prepared to accept at tho rate -of Id per >oz. ..letters addressed to any country, ( • bat certain countries in which tho letter rate is now 2£d will not accept letters with postago paid les3 than 2£d. !. The new rates to be adopted from Octo- • ber 1 . are :as follows:— '■■-. j Letters,, inland— for:the first ounce and id for each additional ounce. Letters within tho. British Empire and to certain foreign countries— for each ounce or fraction thereof, : i «j Postcards, inland— £d, reply Id. Packets, inland (comprising commercial papers, books and printed papers* pattern and sample packets, and unregistered magazines)—id for each 2oz. or fraction thereof, up' to 21b., and 2d . for each additional lb.", or fraction up to ; 51b..' 3 - . : Magazines, -Inland.—-Each copy;.not exceeding Boz., Id; each additional Boz. or fraction' thereof, Id. . . - 'As anixjuncod in the Budget, it ; is anticipated that the reductions will mean a temporary loss of revenue of approximately £250,000 per .annum. The department hopes with the reduction of postage rates to the lowest possible level on both letters and second-class matter that there will be" a : proportionate increase in . business.--. y,; ; './...; ' ,■,'■..•■■■' '■'.■••: :•:'■'. "■;■■■■': ''••':" Some years ago, statistics published by the Universal Postal Union showed that New Zealand exceeded all countries in the number - : of * letters and :• .'postcards posted per head of population, the average number.: of letters and postcards posted annually by, each man, woman, and child in 'the •- Dominion working out at 97.1. So far as is !knpwn, New Zealand ; still holds the leading position. No doubt the high. ratio is to some extent due to the low. rates of postage which formerly obtained. ■...-.From:■ October 1 next, New Zealand will again enjoy the cheapest rates of postage m the world. ' ■ ;