DEARER POSTAGE

Waipa Post, Volume 42, Issue 3277, 26 March 1931, Page 5

DEARER POSTAGE

"DEFEATS ITS OWN OBJECT." SUGGESTION TO GOVERNMENT. There was general agreement at the'Wellington Chamber of Commerce Council meeting on Tuesday evening that the recent 100 per cent-increase in postal rates was defeating its own object. This view was first expressed by Mr M. M. Heinemann, who also said that he knew that a number of firms and the Wellington City Council were delivering some if not all of their, local mail. He considered that the Government should refrain from doting anything that detrimentally affected the business community at a time like this. Mr F. Gill was also of the opinion that in the matter of postage, the department was defeating its own object. A HALFPENNY RISE. Mr W. Sim concurred.' He said that some advance in the rates was necessary to get additional revenue, and he did not know whether the lh rate might not be advocated. The increase in packet postage was affecting those who put out circulars, and he knew it was affecting the printing trade quite, seriously, which the Government ought to consider. Mr J. Curtis suggested that there was something behind the Government's action in regard to parcels, to relieve it of having to provide more accommodation for the increasing business at the post office. Mr Heinemann said the post office would not send parcels by the Limited express, but the Railway Department was doing so. There were parcels one could send by rail for 6d for which the post office charged 3s. v BOILERS BY PARCEL POST. The chairman, Mr D. J. McGowan, said that the parcels post had been abused. It was "a bit strong" when hot water boilers were sent away by parcels post. Probably this was why a maximum of 111 b had been decided upon. A committee which had considered the subject generally commended the desires of the Government to keep its expenditure within its revenues, not only for current commitments, but also as a measure to be followed for future policy. The committee, how- , ever, was inclined to the view that some of the increases (many of them . 100 per cent on the old rates) would largely defeat the aim for revenue' by way of additional receipts; this would especially be the case in local > areas wherever it was possible to ef- ' feet delivery by messenger in lieu of utilising the facilities of the postal service. The council adopted the committee's recommendation that for mail matter to be delivered from the offices of posting the following rates be urged upon the Government: ' (a) ' first class mail matter (letters), a rate of Id per oz; (b) second class matter (e.g., invoices, notices, circulars), a rate of id for the first 2 ozs.