MAGAZINE POSTAGE RATES

Otago Witness, Issue 3467, 24 August 1920, Page 6

MAGAZINE POSTAGE RATES

HIGH INCREASES RESENTED. ACION BY BOOKSELLERS. In these days when the printing presses of the world are pouring forth a constant stream of literature of all classes the magazine with its plates and pictures, its bright and breezy stories, or its fund of solid information is as much a necessity as a luxury. At all events a great many people, especially in the country districts, would feel it a distinct hardship if they were compelled to give up their favourite magazine with its welcome budget of news from the great outside world. Yet this is a r .suit which the increased cost of the magazines themselves, but more particularly the very much enhanced postage rates which were recently imposed, seem to be conspiring to bring about. At a recent meeting of the booksellers’ section of the Otago Employers’ Association it was decided to forward the following'letter to the Postmaster-general (the Hon. J. G. Coates) on the subject—“We beg to draw your attention to the grave injustice which has been imposed by the new rates of postage upon the purchasers of magazines, particularly those who reside in the country districts and are en- ■ i roly dependent upon delivery by mail. The new rate also imposes a very heavy tax upon parcels of books, etc., sent to country schools, for example 8d postage was required a few days ago for a parcel of six threepenny exercise books. It ia quite recognised that additional revenue is necessary, but the increased postage rate for registered) magazines is so entirely out of proportion to the increased rates for letters and newspapers as to be almost prohibitive, and already its effect is being felt in the large number of notifications of discontinuance which have _ been received by booksellers from magazine subscribers. It is probable therefore that as a result there will be a decrease of revenue from this source. While the pre-war rate for letters and newspapers has been doubled the rate for registered magazines has, in most cases been quadrupled, as the following instances show:—

It is respectfully suggested that these anomalies should be removed and the increase in magazine rates made proportionate to the charges for other parcels.” - It has been further arranged that a deputation shall wait on the Postmaster-general in Wellington with respect to the whole matter.

\ Pre-war. New Rate. Pearson’s ... ... 1/ 4/ Strand ... ... ... 1/ 4/ Popular Mechanics... 2/ ; .6/ Reel Book 2/ - 6/ Ladies’Home Journal 2/6 10/ Motion Pictures ... 1/ 4/ Cassell’s 6d 2/