POSTAL CONCESSIONS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 233, 26 June 1919, Page 6

POSTAL CONCESSIONS

NO MOKE TO PATRIOTIC SOCIETIES

A statement regarding the withdrawal of the postal concessions that have been given to patriotic societies was made by the , Minister of Internal (the Hon. G. W. Russell) to a reporter,yesterday. . ■ "Now that the war is over, and a large nuiabcr of our patriotic organisations are going out of action," said tho Minister, "the Government has reconsidered the postal concessions granted to them.- The cost borne by tho Internal Affairs Department for the year • ended December 31 last was X' 3306, or an average .of >£2T4 a month. Owing to the cessation of hostilities and the diminution of collections, the cost of postages during the last quarter was reduced- to .£136 a month, or roughly by 50 per cent.- Many of the smaller funds are being closed' up, and moneys in the hands of tho .branches of the larger funds are being concentrated in the centres. Consequently it has been determined that , from and after August I next no postage concessions will be allowed excepting to societies which are. administering funds and to the Women's National Reserve and the Returned Soldiers' Association, which has an allowance of .£250 per annum. ' There are some large funds which.have large surpluses, from which it is considered they can irom the date named well afford to pay thiir I own postages."