RURAL MAIL DELIVERY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20255, 15 May 1929, Page 15

RURAL MAIL DELIVERY.

POPULARITY OF SERVICE. EXTENSION OF THE SYSTEM. Everywhere throughout New Zealand on isolated country roads may be seen the neat, weatherproof boxes that are part of tho rural mail delivery system. So rapidly has the system grown in popularity since it was established seven years ago that now more than 19,000 settlers enjoy its advantages. The Postmaster-General, the Hon. J. B. Donald, stated yesterday that it is his policy to provide the more closely settled rural areas with postal facilities at least equal to those of, the smaller towns, and to give settlers in remote and sparsely-settled areas a mail delivery at least thrice weekly. When the system was adopted the service was provided without charge, but the relatively large loss that was being suffered made it imperative to charge a small fee. This was fixed at £1 a year for a settler roceiving a delivery more frequent than thrico weekly and 10s for less frequent services. The results have fully justified this policy. With the revenue derived from the fees the department has been able to increase the frequency of the services and to extend their area.

A most useful part of the system of which but little is heard is the sale to boxholders of postage stamps and stamped envelopes, while money orders and postal notes are procured for thern. The country dweller has by this means the advantage over the city or suburban man, who has to see to the posting of his own letters and to journey to the nearest post office for stamps or money orders. The saving of time effected for them by the rural mailmen is greatly appreciated by the country boxholders. So effective .is tho rural delivery in meeting the requirements of rural communities that in somo cases country post offices have been closed as they are no longer required. Occasionally there is difference of opinion among the people concerned whether they would prefer a post office or a aural delivery. In'such cases where opinion seems fairly evenly divided the problem is usually solved by allowing the existing arrangement to continue.