EVADING PROPER POSTAGE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3117, 22 June 1917, Page 5

EVADING PROPER POSTAGE

'A DEPARTMENTAL CIRCULAR,

He following is an extract from a circular which has been issued by the Post and Telegraph Department lo business men in. Wellington:— "Many firms post accounts intended for delivery from the' office at which they are posted (town delivery) at the rate of Id. for the loz. (which includes war-tax), notwithstanding tho fact that these accounts bear thereon written or printed remarks, requests for payment, and so on, which exclude them from the privilege of the halfpenny post. "This breach of the regulations is no doubt committed in ignorance. "It is necessary to erupliasise the point that accounts bearing any such superscription as "Due/.'This account is now overdue/ 'An early settlement v-ill oblige,' etc., must bo prepaid letter-rates of. postage.

"The extra labour thrown upon the Post Office in correcting these irregularities is very great. Although this Department at the present time is working under grave difficulties through the operation of the war, it nevertheless endeavours to maintain the service it las ■usually rendered the public. ~ "The Post Office therefore confidently appeals to the beads of business houses ■to assist it by seeing that their employees strictly conform to the regulations in the matter mentioned herein.

"It is proper here to state that if the irregular posting of articles at tho town delivery rate for commercial papers continues the Post Office will seriously have to consider the question of placing accounts under the category of otters.'"

This circular'was brought Wore the council of the Central Chamber of Commerce at Monday's lncetine: by Mr. W. Smith (of Smith and SmilM, who pointed out tfiat the commercial community were being deprived of a privilege that has grown up with usage in New Zealand, and its retention was a matter that thp Chamber might interest itself in. The chairman was inclined to acres with Mr. Smith, but Mr. Thomas Forsyth said that he repnrdod such communications ns a substitution for n for- | mal letter, nnd was inclined to Ix>lieve that the was not aslciin; for more than its dii<>. Finally it was decided to hold further consideration of the matter ovev until tho "next meeting of the council. >