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Hokitika Guardian, 1 May 1924, Page 2

It has been hinted in more than one quarter that penny postage is .likely to go by the board at no distant date. The reason for this is not disclosed by tho authorities so far, but if tlio demands of the postal officers for ail increase in salaries ranging over £300.000, are to bo conceded, it would not bo surprising that more revenue will have to lie raised, and the method which would most readily suggest itself to Ilio Government would ho to pass on to the public the liability, and enforce say two penny postage. That would be a heavy impost and the effect in general would he far-reaching. With regard to a public service such as the postal and telegraphic, it should not he necessary for the Government to make a profit. It is a monopoly service in the interests of the people, and the best should he done without drawing ifiynn the people more than is necessary for the efficient conduct of the service. I’oslnl and telegraphic facilities play a very imoprtant part, in the life of a conntiv —industrially, commercially and domestically. Cheap rates for postages and telegraph matter must facilitate intercourse, giving a greater volume of business and larger scope for employment. Higher rates will restrict intercourse—as has been proved in the recent past—and will occasion the necessity of reducing st ill's. 'Hie increased revenue by higher rates, hut with reduced business, will not always balance the cost of administration on a previous lower scale of charges. Tt demands only a little imagination to grasp the fact, that ail indirect gain may easily more than counter-balance a material and direct loss. That is the case for retaining penny postage, in a nutshell. Tlio cheaper rate conduces to trade and business, and the more general prosperity <>f the country. This was proved when penny postage was universal. The economic situation is not so much out of joint- that it is now necessary to abandon cheap postage, merely for revenue purposes.

Vick.-Ah.mihai, Fiki.l). on hoard the greatest warship of the times, row in Wellington, has been giving his views on navies in general, and the British Navy in particular. As the great sniloi is entitled to'speak with authority, his views are of more than passing interest. Touching matters of naval policy, the Admiral said he could not enter deeply into that subioct. Imt lie agreed that when people were paying for something, it was only natural they should want .sometimes to sec what they had paid for. Small local navies would he more costly and less satisfactory than one main navy in which the host training possible, and the greatest efficiency, were attainable. New Zealand would do better by -subscribing, to the maintenance of an Empire Fleet than by trying to establish a small independent squaifron. The ships serving in these waters and the crows aboard them should he interchangeable, so that New Zealanders could have an opportunity of serving abroad, seeing the world, „nd having such training as could only 1,0 got during the manoeuvres of. say. tbe".\tlnnlic Fleet. There was every opportunity for Now Zealanders to serve in the Navy, and no reason why they should not attain the highest positions. Replying to a question whether as had any opinion on the subject of establishing a naval base at Auckland, the. Admiral said Auckland already had adequate repair taeilitics for the purposes of a light, cruiser squadron. A\hat was wanted, however, was a plentiful oil supply, as ships without fuel would he useless. By maintaining repair shops and building up oil reserves, the country could perform excellent service tor the Navy, and it would he much cheaper than building a new base. The remarks for one Empire Fleet will he approved very generally. The value of that was indicated at the time of the Great Mar. The New Zealand naval liolicy as far as it- goes is on right lines, hut it should he more pronounced and practical m favor of the Empire Fleet.