NEW POSTAL RATES

Evening Post, Issue 51, 2 March 1931, Page 10

NEW POSTAL RATES

REDUCTION OF BUSINESS

REGARDED AS PROBABLE

(By Telegraph.) (Special_to "The Evening Post.") . AUCKLAND, This Day. ' "I think the Government has made a very big in doubling the postal rates," said Mr. H. T. Mcrritt, president of tlie Associated Chambers of Commerce of New Zealand. Mr. Merritt said that all businesses felt that tho increase had. to be made, but not | to the extent of doubling tlie present! rate. t "An increase of id," said Mr. Merritt, "would have been ample. It would have brought in the necessary additional revenue, but the rate of 2d and other penalities added, ..which will bear heavily on business people, will probably result in a drop rather than a gain.' If thcre^s any large amount of mail going out) now in the city firms will be inclined to deliver it^and it may p*y them to do so." ■ Mr. Merritt said he could fully endorse the opinions and criticisms of Mr. Malcolm Stewart, immediate past president of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce-, who held tho -opinion that thero would be an immediate reduction in the volume of business. It was not to be expected that people would use the Post and Telegraph services to tho same extent under the new scale of rates. As some'doubt has existed. whether the halfpenny postage on invoices will be affected by the increase, the Chief Postmaster (Mr. Donald) states_ that rates on all commercial papers will be raised from tho minimum of'half a penny for 2oz to one penny for 4oz. Included under the heading of commercial papers arc accounts, invoices, books, and printed papers, pattern and sample packots, and unregistered magazines. Household circulars will not be affected and will continuo to bear the charge of one halfpenny.