NEW POSTAL GUIDE

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20887, 19 August 1939, Page 3

NEW POSTAL GUIDE

UNEXPECTED INFORMATION INTERESTING POINTS IN BOOK Almost every day some post office service is rendered to every individual in tile co-nun unity; and the range of the departments work is so wide that it is not surprising to find that the new issue of the Post office Guide requires nearly 400 pages for presentation of the necessary information, even in the brief form customary in such reference works. The guide is available to the public at a small cost, and those who have much to do with communications of any kind will And within its pages many valuable items of information. Overseas postal services are described under the headings of countries, for the reason that although the international postal rate of 2£d will carry a letter to any part of the world —and within the Empire by air for a smaller sum—the customs requirements in particular show great variai tion for different countries when it comes to sending parcels or “small packets.” There are many prohibited articles, and other complications associated with the introduction of goods. Soviet Russia, for example, lias a regulation that parcels l'or delivery within its borders must be strongly packed in wooden boxes or sewn in j canvas or similar material, sealed with > the private device of the sender. Car.lI board or paper coverings for parcels * will nut be accepted. Certificate of Poverty Possibly New Zealanders will not be concerned over one. of the conditions imposed by Poland for the reception of parcels containing used clothing from other countries; but it is interesting to note that for some season which the guide docs not cx- | plain, such packages will be delivered ; only if the sender lias previously ob- | tained, for enclosure, a “ccrtiiicate of ! poverty” issued to the addressee by | local authorities in Poland. .Many i countries require production of an imi port certificate before delivering pari cels containing commercial goods, j More than 50 pages are tilled with biref indications of countries with ! which cables may be exchanged. The ! great variety of charges to be found I in this section throws into prominence ! the value ol' the llat-rate maximum of ; Is 3d a word within the Empire, i Where the charge has been less, the ! lower rate still operates. '{