FOREIGN PARCELS POST SYSTEM. (From Our Own Correspondent.)

Otago Witness, Issue 1927, 26 October 1888, Page 15

FOREIGN PARCELS POST SYSTEM. (From Our Own Correspondent.)

Wellington, October 21.

I have made full inquiries of the Postal department with reference to the cable message published in Saturday's papers to the effect that the New Zealand parcels post has been arranged on a similar system to that in force between Great Britain aud the Australian colonies, and that the new service begins in about a monthi and am now in a position to give some interesting information as to the present intentions regarding the new postal service. I may mentiop pi limine that the arrangements are not yet definitely completed notwithstanding the positive wording of the telegram, but it is expected that this will very shortly be accomplished. A cable message was received by the Government on Friday from the Agent-general to the effect that an understanding had virtually been arrivrd at with the Imperial postal authorities, aud that everything was likely to be satisfactorily settled ere long, but the agreement as arranged with the Home authorities has to be sent out to New Zealand for the signature of the New Zealand Government before any practical effect can be given to it. It is understood, however, that the basis on which the scheme will be arranged and the manner in which it will be carried out are, in general terms, as follows : —

In the first place " foreign parcels" will mean any packages or parcels transmitted by the post office between New Zealand and any place outside of New Zealand. All the customs acts now in force will apply to "foreign parcels," and any breach of the regulations thereafter to be made by Order-in-Council as to the application of the Customs Act to such parcels will involve the same penalties and forfeiture as any infringements of the customs acts. These provisions are in the Post Office Foreign Parcels Act of last session, but it is necessary to recapitulate them briefly in order that what follows may be intel ligible. It is the intention of the Government that the foreign parcels shall be sent both ways by the fortnightly direct steamer, and a provisional agreement has been made with both thj New Zealand Shipping Company and the Shaw, Savill, and Albion Company under which thost companies will convey the parcels on certain terms which have* been agreed upon, but which it is not deemed necessary to disclose until the service shall have been finally settled and the contract actually signed. The terms, however, are uuderstood to be of a satisfactory character. The rates of postage are not yet finally decided, but ifc is probable that they will be the same as those in force in Australia— viz., 9d per lb, with a minimum weight of 21b and a maximum weight of 111b ; that is to say, no less charge than Is 6\i will be made and no parcel weighing more than 111b will be accepted for transmission ,by post. Much thought has been devoted to the provisions for ensuring that the public revenue shall not be defrauded or tbo public convenience impeded. It was felt that if the burden were laid on the consignees (or addressees) of foraigu parcels of having to run backwards aud forwards between the post office and the customhouse to pass entries and make declarations and go through the other customary forms which attend tlio receipt of dutiable goodd from abroad, fcho utility of the parcels post would be seriously discounted, and its popularity injured at the very start. Accordingly a system has been devised which it is confidently believed will get over all anticipated difficulties, give a minimum of trouble to persons using the parcels post, and efficiently protect the revenue from loss. The plau proposed is this : Thel sender (in England) of a parcel to New Zealand will be required to state in writing on the wrapping of the parcel the nature and value of its contents, and make a simple declaration that this statement is true. The New Zealand postal officers will (according to the presentation) be authorised to act as customs officers for the time being and to collect such duties as may be leviible on the goods contained in the parcels. On the arrival of a foreign parcel the New Zealand postal officers will immediately send a notice to the addressee that a parcel is in such a post office addressed to him or her, and that it will be delivered on payment of the customs duty, amounting to so much. For instance, to take a very simple case, supposing au English sender forwards to a New Zealand consignee a pair of boots valued at £1, he will state on the cover of the parcel that euch are its contents and value. On arrival the postmaster will ascertain that the duty payable ia 4s, and he will notify to the consignee just as is done in the case of registered letters, or if a letter, &c. is bearing deficient postage, that a parcel awaits him, and that on payment of 4s only he can obtain it. The consignee has then only to walk in, pay the duty, and get hi 3 parcel without auy further trouble. ' Of course if the article sent be not dutiable it will be delivered in the ordinary way like newspapers or books, but it is hardly possible under the present tariff that any articles which may arrive from abroad should be not dutiable. Necessarily also the postal and customs authorities will be empowered to act as may be required in case of any attempt to evade the customs aud defraud the revenue. Similar provisions will probably be made with respect to parcels sent from New Zealand to • other countries, bo far 8B this is feasible, having re-

gard to their several laws and customs regulations, It is hoped that the parcels post may be brought into operation before the end 01 the present year.