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Hokitika Guardian, 17 August 1920, Page 2

The discussion in the House last week on the increased postal charges was useful as a means of drawing the attention of the Government to the seriousness of the position, and although the divisions on the test questions were in favor of the Government, the speeches had the effect of dawing from both the Postmaster-GeneraL and the Prime 'Minister a promise to consider any suggestion for an amendment of the details. This is some little concession and it indicates that Ministers are not feeling too sure of their ground. The Budget shows that last year the postal department showed a profit of over £155,000. This year according to the estimated revenue, the income of the Department is going to increase over £553,000. Looking to the substantial increase made in the charges for postages, telegrams, telephones, monoy orders, letter boxes and what not, there should be an enormous increase on last year’s receipts if the late volume of business is maintained. But in the House, the Postmaster General said lie estimated th e extra increase from the additional charges at £260,000 only. On the face of it this suggests that the volume of past business is not going to be maintained. Is this good for the country? Certainly not, and the decrease of revenue will reflect itself in other directions also. The Minister sqid also tliat c the increased salaries were going to cost £300,000, but with an, increased revenue of £553,243 this is nearly provided for twice over. If we add last year’s profits on the service of £155,263, and assume that on the” ordinary business the Department should do no worse this year, then with next year’s profit and the year’s increase of charges there should be the additional revenue of £708,506.' This is soaring far above the extra cost of salaries, and suggests that the users of the post and telegraph facilities are paying far too much for their privileges. Th e position indicates that the war period tariff witli general economies within the Department should be ample to meet the financial position, and till the matter is otherwise demonstrated the public will look with great disfavour on the - increases. Incidentally we note that the Postmaster-General looks with favor on costly aerial services in the north of Auckland, but denies the South AVestland people a second weekly road service, which would cost only a fraction of favors meted out to the specially nursed north of Auckland. So much for professed economics.