A POST OFFICE REMINDER

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 58, 10 March 1931, Page 9

A POST OFFICE REMINDER

The Post Office states that it will '‘protect its monopoly.” The monopoly is defined as covering “letters, postcards, letter-cards, and commercial papers,” but not parcels or newspapers. The law is quoted as saying that: No letter shall be sent or carried for hire or reward otherwise than by post. Apparently anyone who gives a boy a penny to carry a letter is liable prima facie to a £2O fine. No better evidence of the harmlessness of this State monopoly over many decades could be found than the fact that information of these things comes as a surprise. We cannot remember that the £2O fine has ever been collected. We do not know of any private service that ever wished to take away from the Post Office the privilege of carrying a letter for a penny or twopence. But when it comes to certain kinds of “commercial papers” the position may be dii erent. It seems that a search has been made lately by private persons for cheaper means of delivery. This movement the Post Office may resist, even if the business goes to another State service, the railways. At any rate, the Post Office will “protect its monopoly.” A monopoly can prevent diversion of business. It cannot prevent business being discontinued.