PENNY POSTAGE

Colonist, Volume XXXIV, Issue 6067, 23 March 1891, Page 5

PENNY POSTAGE

(From ' The Colonial;,' Maroh 10.) The announcement made by Mr WarcC at Sydney, tbat the Government contemplate proposing nexi session to-a-fcablish a penny pottage in New Zealand, may perchance have been somewhat irragular a3 to time ani phc?, bui v ii none the less agreeat<la to those concerned. It maat be frankly admitted that Mr Ward was in an awkward position. Tha motionrf the' Victorian Postmaster-General for the reduotion of intercolonial postage to ona peuuy had to be dealt, with forthwith, so with bis cbaracierisfiia promptitnde and busiutss t-^ct, a choice bit of Mr Balance's nexfi Fiaaccial dt*tenie ; jt was anticipated, and no 'bob', u^d-r the eircmsfcauces ?hg Tr^a-ar-r w-.il ooaJone hi. j , c ll«:-rgin's

open-jp^s. Tbei-o io onti p irn of af-eaial int~-re?t !bu3 m-u?e cl- ar as to the policy of our rew f-3-ovirooieiit, a-;--] '.3 oiher^.i c it mnst have beea -sev: r 1 month >; b;£jr; :vny thing clt fi-

ruto c u!d be koowa, it is by no means ■;rn's-: fch t ?b ; < c u^tty li-.s a sure uicicuitiuii of ik; ;i ueral line. TbiS'

••fduction of postage is co me' 9 class r.^ ! ? : f. E v ry peva a will to s ma

'-xteut re.j-:iv« he:ufit,.and the impetus •hus g yea to commercial and fiiaadly corrtsp >n?5( i;C3 wi 1 doubilts^ in no O' g ime repair tbo inroad on th& i'3>eone. For many y^ars a wish baa

b^e*

i i rotes-it cl for ru ting our s ottlers !:.• rijii rot t*r of internal postage rates on os f -vor-iblo h fco inij as the people in biug and hive e.o long beeo. Yo^ •>vh ).? iaies good and funds were abundant, a siuqular foiidneas was displayed f(-r bestowing any surplus on ii c wealthy, rather than distributing h among the community. TLu postage qu-siion was often alluded to aa de irable, though beyond oar nieaus, yeii no sooner was there aa oppottanity for the reduction of taxau (U -Inn some fraction of a p?aiiy, perhaps h sixteentli, was taken off tbe Property Tax, and the othtr that affected everybody, had to wait till a mo; 1 ;- convenient season. The cessa.ion of class favorite in this mat 1 be 'ftus' - be );e3d fo forebarfos? its disconti JU ; moe in every department, so it^is fini .-eutly ?a isiactory to have the informal ioa while the Opposition stormy wiuds blow. Wuen tbe

after is caimly considered, it is bvkuu! ihn-i when ths po3^age to

-. n-j :aad was lowered to 2|d, it was a'anr i to continue charging 2d from oae New Zo la d town to another. Ody one halfpenny diff reoce between t-vtiv-j miles <r 'ess, and twelve thoa■.Kr.il, ia far oatdid-j RowUud HiU's .scheme. Th^re ar^ several ciroams a ■•■•C93 atten'iii?g Mr Ward's presence

At the Postal (Joiifercnee that call for notice. Ti.e raastei-j of every de ail oonnec'ei with *he Eastern Extension Cable and t 1.-graphic business generally, ioaiinds us tuat not nuuy years havo elapsed siuco he was erapljyed In the Department, snbjeot to the ov.lars of Dr L^moo, who cow has to ier>r:i subrni?sion to onfl aho c merits as au officer he wxs not able to appreciate. If -he head man had possessed sufficient intelligence to m*ke him a fair judge of character, Mr Ward would bava received promotion, and rnigkfc now have been a Civil Sarvanfe instead of having risen to bo a Minister of the Crown. Then again as to the Secretary of tbe Post Office, who doubllegß fancied himself told off to> coach his chief, h& found his views ignored, an^ his feara derided. Whsa

tha proposal to reduce the English rate wr*B made, tbe well-meaning Secretary saw disaster in the sacrifice. He warned the Government offline clay against th 9 change, and suppled he had advanced a crushing argument in predicting that it must soon be foloA-ed by this very redactioo. Mr Ward might benefit by the departmental information of a mere official bnt he drew his own conclusions^ His ciect-etary might have facts, bnfc he furni«had the judgment that gave them foroe an>! vi ality. The Colony may congratulate itself both on the Minister, and the promised reform.