COIN IN LETTERS

Southland Times, Issue 22218, 10 January 1934, Page 4

COIN IN LETTERS

REGULATIONS REGARDING EXPORT.

(Per United Press Association.)

Wellington, January 9.

A little Wellington girl recently posted a letter to a little cousin who had gone abroad and enclosed two threepenny pieces coated with Christmas pudding that comprised part of her Christmas surprise. The letter was stopped, branded “irregularly posted,” and again branded. “Letters containing coin must be sent by registered post and yet again compulsorily registered; sixpence to pay.’’ On its back was gummed a cautionary notice. It was sent to the Dead Letter Office which duly ascertained the name and address of the sender’s father. It reached him with the following notice: This letter is returned to you because it contains silver coin. The coined silver regulations of 1931 prohibit the export of silver coin unless a permit is first obtained from the Minister of Finance. The coin may be confiscated if attempts to export it without the required permit are made. In this connection the Post Office is informed by the Treasury Department that should any further letter containing coin be posted by you, the coin will be confiscated. Even where there are no Treasury restrictions on the export of coin, the Post Office requires at all times that letters containing coin be registered. Formal application is to be made for a permit.