RURAL MAIL DELIVERIES

Otago Witness, Issue 3523, 20 September 1921, Page 20

RURAL MAIL DELIVERIES

J TO OPERATE FROM JANUARY 1. , r „ WELLINGTON, September 6. Ine t ostmaster-general (Hon. J. G. Coates) Juts decided that the new scheme of rural mail deliveries outlined by him recency m a speech at Manurewa shall come into operation on January 1 next, when tpe ensiling three years. The new scheme pjondes for a system of delivery to private boxes erected on the roadside, on approved routes. The cost of providing the box will fall upon the settler, who will also be required to pay the sum ot £2 per annum if the delivery is ot a greater frequency than thrice weekly, 01 A, P er annum if the delivery does not exceed thrice weekly. Mail matter will not be delivered at any box until the fee tor that box has been paid. Settlers will be required, as soon as possible, to inst.il a standard type of box. Box-holders will be requited to pay the feoe mentioned, in the case of existing deliveries, irrespective oi whether or not an amount is now contributed by the settlers towards the cost or deliveries. A iie Minister, in the course of a statement- regarding* the new scheme, staled toQti.v that in a few cases the revenue already exceeded the cost of the service, ami lie nnd no dotilff that .some of the settlers would be disposed to disapprove of a scheme that would cost them £l2 a year each in the future, but it would have to be adnutteu that the charges were very small and that the benefit to the whole body of settlers in the outlying districts would be yery great; indeed. The following conditions had been laid down as a basis for the new scheme, which had been drawn up a ter careful examination of rural mail schemes in other countries; 1. All deliveries to he circular if possible, in order to avoid duplication of travel. . 9- Tifty per cent, of the eligible residents in each delivery area to join the scheme. 3. I\o delivery to persons living in a township, or within half a mile of tlio post office in any fo.vnship. 4. A separate box to be provided by each family. „ 5. No delivery to be established unless the families to be served equal four per mile fir a ten-mile run, or six per mile for a snorter defiance. 6. frequency to be at least equal to the present, mail service where possible. 7. All boxes used to be of standard type , Rural deliveries that cannot comply with these conditions will be established only by special arrangement between the department and tile settlers, but they will be brought into the new scheme at the earliest possible moment.