THE Southland Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. Luceo Non Uro. THURSDAY, 17th JANUARY, 1901. POSTAL AND TELEGRAPH RATES IN AUSTRALIA.

Southland Times, Issue 14840, 17 January 1901, Page 2

THE Southland Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. Luceo Non Uro. THURSDAY, 17th JANUARY, 1901. POSTAL AND TELEGRAPH RATES IN AUSTRALIA.

The outcome of correspondence between the Postmaster-General and the Premier of the Australian Commonwealth in regard to the establishment of the penny postage system between New Zealand and Australia is that, until the Federal Government are in control of the respective States that have hitherto administered postal affairs independently, they are unable to allow letters to go into their country for one penny. Mr Ward has expressed great disappointment at this, but he has, he says, every hope and, indeed, the greatest confidence that the public spiritedness of the new Ministers will in time prompt them to comply with his representations and enable people in New Zealand to at least send their letters to Australia at the same rate as they can send them elsewhere in her Majesty’s dominions. We certainly join in the hope that this may be the case, and that the most inconyenient anomaly which now exists of postal rates to Australia being double what they are to the Home Country and the great dependencies of the Crown may soon be terminated. The question has, it may be noted, received specific attention in Australia in view of the now completed federation, A Conference of the permanent heads of the Post and Telegraph Departments of the Federation colonies was held in Sydney at the end of November, and their report, a comprehensive document with numerous appendices, is to be considered by the Commonwealth Ministry in the course of next month, when a decision on the question mooted will probably be arrived at.

Ther' question of penny postage throughout the Commonwealth and the British Empire was consideted by the Conference. The annual loss of revenue by each State by the adoption of this reform, allowing for the increase of correspondence, would, it was stated, amount approximately to £295,586. Against this, however, there would probably be a gain of £45,000 a year by the imposing of postage charges on newspapers in those States which now, on certain conditions, carry newspapers free—namely, New South Wales, West Australia, and Tasmania. In view of the estimated loss, no definite recommendation was made. In this connection it is interesting and instructive to note the remarks of our Postmaster-General in regard to the financial effects of the adoption of penny postage by New Zealand. Speaking at the inauguration of the new system at Wellington, in the early hours of the new century, Mr Ward said that ho ventured to predict that the immediate reduction in revenue, considerable as undoubtedly it would be, would be made up in a few years, and, even if it were not made up, the greatly increased convenience which tho users of the Postal Department would enjoy, would entirely outweigh the temporary financial loss which the colony might suffer. As

a general principle, he continued, the Postal Department should not be used as a taxing machine. The taxation of any enlightened- country should be raised by any other means than that of utilising the State departments for revenue-producing purposes. Each department should be self-supporting, and in New Zealand many were more than self-supporting. The time was opportune for carrying out such an experiment as that on which the colony had embarked, and he looked forward, he declared, with confidence to the universal penny postage system being "proved a success in every possible way. In regard to newspaper postage, the Conference came to the conclusion that a postage on all newspapers should be charged in the Commonwealth, and the following rates were proposed on newspapers posted within the Commonwealth for delivery therein: —For those printed and published within the Commonwealth, |d per 10 oz.; for other newspapers, Id per 10 oz.; large numbers of newspapers of the same issue, printed and published in the Commonwealth, and posted at the same time by any recognised publisher or newsvendor, who must register his name at the local post office, Id per lb., irrespective of the number of copies enclosedin eaffh addressed wrapper—such rate to bo levied on the aggregate weight. The Conference proposed that, in accordance with the international practice, and as recommended at previous Conferences, addresses and signatures in telegrams transmitted within the Commonwealth be charged for. The rates at present levied in the Australian colonies, in comparison with those in European countries, they consider reasonable. Should, however, it be deemed expedient to make any alteration in the charges, it is suggested that the rates should be : within each State and by each State, on inter-State telegrams, Gd for the first twelve words, including address and signature, and Id for each additional word. The land rates charged by the respective colonies on international telegrams to remain as at present. These rates will, it is stated, be slightly higher between contiguous States than at present, seeing that the address and signature are to be included, but the sender will be able to forward seven words in the text for one shilling. In regard to press telegrams, it is recommended that the charges within each State and by each State on international telegrams shall be — not exceeding twelve worJs—Gd, each additional word up to 24 words |d ; not exceeding 56 words Is; each additional 25 words, or a portion thereof, 4d. On the question of organisation, the appointment of a principal Deputy-Post-master-General is proposed, who will be charged with the administration, chief control and supervision of the Post and Telegraph service of the Commonwealth generally. It is also suggested that in each State the head of the Post and Telegraph service be designated Deputy Postmaster-General or Superintendent of Telegraphs, who would be entrusted with the management of the Department, each in his respective State. It is recommended that, in the first instance, the existing staff be transferred to the Commonwealth, when the time arrives for such transfer, at the salaries they shall be then receiving, unless time shall permit of a thorough reorganisation and regrading of the whole service of the

States before the transfer of the Departments to the Commonwealth Government. As the Post Office Savings Banks are not to be transferred to the Commonwealth the Conference recommend that the Savings Bank authorities in each State be requested to arrange with the Postmaster-General of the Commonwealth for the transaction by his officers of the Savings Bank business, on such uniform terms and conditions as may be agreed upon. Several suggestions respecting the issue of Federal postage stamps were made and discussed by the Conference, but the one most favourably received was that a special set of stamps should be issued, the design of which should be symbolical of the birth of the Commonwealth, and that these stamps should be procurable for a period of, say, three months. The proceeds from their sale, or portion thereof, it is proposed to devote to the establishment of a public institution, such as an hospital in the Federal city. The issue of a new halfpenny postage stamp in each State to commemorate the visit of the Duke of York is recommended—the design of the stamp, being the bust of the Duke. It is further recommended that, pending the introduction of special postage stamps and postal notes, upon the transfer of the Post Offices to the Federal Government all postage stamps and postal notes of the federating colonies be valid within any part of the Commonwealth, and that all such postage stamps and postal notes be over printed with the letters A.O. (Australian Commonwealth.) A special report is attached by the Deputy Postmasters-General of New South Wales and Victoria on the subject of the proposed telephone line between Sydney and Melbourne. The estimated cost of this is given, and the Conference adds: “In view of the large outlay involved, and the probability of its not paying, we do not feel justified in recommending the immediate establishment of telephonic communication between Sydney and Melbourne; but as the question of establishing such communication between the capital cities of the Australian colonies may, .in the near future, receive attention, we advise that the foregoing be submitted for the consideration of the PostmasterGeneral of the Commonwealth upon or before the the transfer of the Post and Telegraph Departments to his control, it being, in our opinion, a question for the Commonwealth Government, as the cost would form a charge against the revenue of the whole of the federated States.”