PENNY POSTAGE

Hokitika Guardian, 21 June 1932, Page 3

PENNY POSTAGE

WHY THE HATE' WAS REDUCED,

MINISTER’S STATEMENT.

CHRISTCHURCH, June 18

A reply to statements made that the inc: ease of twopenny postage, was a mistake was made by the Hon. A. Hamilton, Postmaster-General, in his address at the official opening of the new Post Office in High Street yesterday afternoon. The Minister also referred to the pressure at present being brought to bear on the Department to make a reduction in telephone rentals.

“There have been statements made that the increase .to twopenny postage was a mistake. I want to contradict them,” said the Minister. “The advance was made to increase the revenue, so as to compensate in some measure for the decreased return from Customs and other sources 1 . It did bring in revenue and my Department was able to pay over to the Consolidated Fund about £994,000 which was of great assistance in easing the burden created by other fallings off.

“Such a method of securing revenue was not one to be pressed ? however-,” he continued. “So the rate has been reduced to one penny again. Tire reduction had not been made as the result of pressure of public opinion. As

a matter of fact there was more, pressure being exerted to reduce. telephone rental charges than , there had. beenijto revert to penny postage. I. think r thj».t when the announcement of reversion to' it was announced the public was agreeably surprised. ' ‘‘The Post Office is a Department which has a monopoly and that being so it would ,not. Ire right to use.it -to exert too 1 much pressure in the way of increases. The object is to provide

a service at as cheap rates as possible. It is True that taxation is-apt to hurt business if. pressed too far;.

“In regard, to pressure being, brought to bear to have telephone rentals .reduced I ask that you do not press ;iis too hard in-that respect or you , will take away revenue which would possibly make it .hard: for us to balance our Budget. Let the Department consider the whole question with care. We are I looking,into the matter of course, but we Jo not want to go too far in that, direction. It is realised that farmers and business and professional people are finding difficulty in paying fixed charges and so every endeavour will- be made to see if an easing of the burden can be arranged,” the Minister concluded. -. x ~