PENNY POSTAGE

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1511, 14 February 1901, Page 48

PENNY POSTAGE

INTENTIONS OF THE COMMONWEALTH.

REDUCTIONS IN THE RATES.

SYDNEY, February 7.

The Hon. E. Barton, the Federal Premier, states that penny postage will be established throughout the Commonwealth at the earliest possible date.

AUSTRALIA’S ATTITUDE TO NEW

ZEALAND

NO T IN ACCORD WITH THE FEDERAL SPIRIT.

Asked last night by a “Times” reporter what the exact position was in regard to the penny postage, as far as the! Australian Colonies are concerned, the Premier said : “When I was in Australia I had conferences with several Postmasfcers-Gene-ral in regard to the matter. As a consequence their intimation that understamped letters from New Zealand would 1 be detained has not been given effect to. They ays delivering the letters, but charging double deficient postage. I have evca’y reason to believe, however, that they will shortly cease from doing that.”

"TV hat was the general attitude in regard to the matter?” “Well, the Postmaster-General of New South Wales was inclined to think that we were trying to force the hands of the ether colonies, but this opinion was not generally held. Victoria herself will instal a penny postage system shortly, to take effect within the colony as from the Slst March. “The cable message which I have seen published, in which the Right Hon. E. Barton, the .Federal Premier, says that penny postage will be established throughout the Commonwealth, at the earliest possible date echoes, I am sure, the general feeling of the Australian people as to what ought to be done. "If not,” said Mr Seddon with a twinkle in his eye, “and the States of Australia follow their present course, there is nothing to prevent the authorities here seeing that all letters are fully stamped before they leave. The cost will be only the ink, and the paper upon which the stamps are printed. Qf course the stamps would have to be accounted for, but a vote could be passed by Parliament to meet that. This course would be preferable to allowing individuals to whom letters are sent being penalised in the manner indicated, although of course it would be infinitely better if it could be avoided. At anyrate the existing practice is not in accordance with the Federal spirit which I found prevailing throughout Australia.”