THE POSTAL HATES.

Timaru Herald, Volume L, Issue 4825, 23 April 1890, Page 2

THE POSTAL HATES.

. (I'Btt I'JIKCTRIO TELBORATU— COI'VRIOUT.) (Peii Press Association,) I (Received 12.30 p.m., April 22m1.) 1 ' . Melbourne, April 22. Tho Hou. F. T. Durham, Poslmaater--1 Gunera!, ia not inclined, to accept Jtho-iiro--1 posi-d riHlnotiou of ooloninl postal rates, as Victoria has already incurred a hoavy loss iii reducing th>S inland postage, and ho considers any furthor concession inopportune. lf,howovor,the other colonies accept tho proposal it would be invidious for Victoria to aland out,

Buisbane, April 22. ' The I'oatuaaster-Greneral states that ho is uuab!e ti> express an opinion on tho question until further information has been received ns to what loss it moana to the colony. Adelaide, April 22. It is understood that tho Government aro likely to oppose any alteration m the postal rates involving a loss of revenue. Sydney, April 22. It ia estimated that if the postages be reduced by all routes this colony will Bufler. a loss cf about £130,000 annually. The Government await the arrival of full dotails before taking r.ny steps m the matter (li,T Teosoeapk.) . WKLLING IOS, Apbil 22. Mr Gray, Secretary to tho Post Office, has drawn up estimates of the manner ia which Mr Goscucn's proposal to redueo tho ocean postage to 2id, will affect Hew Zealand. Mr Gray calculates that it will cause a loss to the San Francisco service of £21,355 per year, and on the direct service of £6403 t-'orae small amounts bring the total to £31,244. It is supposed, moreover, that the reduction of the sea n\to< to 2jd, will involve nn alteration m tho inhnd and intercolonial 2J rate, which will ciuso further losb, Tho reduction to Id would mean a further docreaso of revenue to the eitent of £53,533, mutinr- n total loss of £88,127. per .annum. Mr QoschenV project will probibly lead to tho colony joining the Postal Tnion, which would enaMa it to reap the advantage of lower rates to all puts of tho world, and not to England only. Government Imvo not yet considered the matter, and have r,o information beyond the Press cables on Ihe subject. It is suppoic-i that the Eogli>h Qoyfr mient «ill be hardly likely to movs m tho matter until the views of tfeo colonies aro a.-cer-lained.