PROPOSED REDUCTION IN POSTAGE (RETURN OF ESTIMATED LOSS OF REVENUE CONSEQUENT UPON).

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1891 Session II, F-06

P.-6

Sess. 11.—1891. NEW ZEALAND.

PROPOSED REDUCTION IN POSTAGE (RETURN OF ESTIMATED LOSS OF REVENUE CONSEQUENT UPON).

Return to an Order of the House of Representatives dated 2nd July, 1891. Ordered, " That there be laid upon the table of this House (1) a return of the estimated loss of revenue consequent upon the proposed reduction from 2d. to Id. on the inland letter-rate and from Id. to Jd. on each newspaper posted in New Zealand for Australia, also a statement showing how the loss of revenue consequent upon such redaction is likely to be recovered in three years ; (2) a return showing the number of inland and town letters posted in New Zealand during 1890 for delivery in the colony, also the number of letters posted in New Zealand for delivery in the Australian Colonies, including Tasmania, during the same year ; (3) a return showing the proportion of domestic to business letters estimated to be posted in the colony during twelve months."—(Hon. Mr. Mitchelson.)

(1.) Return showing the Estimated Loss of Revenue in the event of the Inland Letter-rate being reduced from 2d. to 1d. per Half-ounce, and the Newspaper-rate for Australia reduced from 1d. to ½d. for each Newspaper. Estimated Loss of Revenue.

(2.) Eetubn showing the Number of Inland and Town Letters, and the Number of Letters for the Australian Colonies, including Tasmania, posted in New Zealand during 1890. Number of town letters ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 3,909,443 Number of inland letters ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 13,661,934 Number of letters for Australian Colonies, including Tasmania ... ... ... 650,895

(3.) Ebtuen of the Estimated Proportion of Business to Domestic Letters, Inland and Town, for a Yearly Period. Inland and Town. 2J business letters to 1 domestic letter. Approximate Cost of Paper.— Preparation, not given; printing (1,300 copies) £1.

By Authority : George Didsbuby, Government Printer, Wellington. — lB9l. Price &d.\

If proposed Decrease in the Postage resulted in an Increase of Letters and Newspapers of By the Reduction of the Inland Letter-rate from 2d. to Id. per Half-ounce. By the Reduction of the Rate for Newspapers for Australia from Id. to each. Nil 10 per cent.... 20 30 40 „ ... 50 „ ... 60 „ ... 70 „ ... 80 „ ... 90 „ ... £ 63,641 57,277 50,913 44,549 38,185 31,821 25,456 19,092 12,728 6,364 £ 1,232 1,109 986 863 740 616 493 370 246 123 Note. —The opinion expressed in tl inland letter-rate would be recovered ir be looked for : First year, normal incre: cent.; and third year, 35 per cent. ie Financial Statement that the loss in the revenue from the reduction of the three years was based on the assumption that the following increases might .se 5 per cent., abnormal 25 per cent. =30 per cent.; second year, 30 per