RURAL MAIL DELIVERY.

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

RURAL MAIL DELIVERY.

IMPROVEMENTS CONTEMPLATED. (F-BOM OUB OWN COBBESPONDENT.) WELLINGTON, August 17. Impending improvements in the system of rural mail delivery were forecasted by the Postmaster-General in answering a question asked him by Mr F. F. Hockley (Rotorua) in the House of Representatives this afternoon. Mr Hockley asked whether the Minister would issue instructions that where contracts were being renewed, and where the seryico was of the same volume as in past years, no reduction should be made on account of increased cost.

Mr Coates said that no tenders would be\ called for a longer period than 12 months. The secretary of the department (Mr W. P. Morris) was on his way to the International Conference at Geneva. He had. been instructed to visit Canada while abroad, and to make inquiries into the rural mails system there This was a matter in which Canada led the world, and it was hoped that, with the information obtained from this source, it would be possible to institute better and cheaper services for the benefit of settlers In the country districts. In the meajr.time le would be very pleased to see that the mail contracts would continue to give the facilities that have heretofore existed for at least 12 months.