Twopenny Postage

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 22, 27 January 1937, Page 9 (Supplement)

Twopenny Postage

PLAINT IN AUSTRALIA MELBOURNE, Jan. 14. In spite of strong representations from organised interests, the Post-master-General, the Hon. A. J. MeLachlan, has intimated that there is no prospect of postal charges being reduced in Australia, where the levy on on ordinary letter is still twopence. This rate was fixed iu the depression for the express purpose of meeting that exigency, as was explained by the Prime Minister, Mr Lyons, who was then Postmaster-General in the Labour Ministry led by Mr Scullin. The extra impost was patiently borne by the public, while there seemed to be plausibility in the departmental plaint that the full effects of tho depression had not passed. But, when it became obvious that the Post Office was making a surplus running into millions of pounds, the public became restive about tho continuance of the high rates. Postal reduction leagues were formed in Victoria and New South Wales, aul unusually influential deputations, representatives of all sections of the business world, joined in a plea that the rates should be lowered. The return of New Zealand to penny postage was diligently cited. The departmental view seemed to be that New Zealand could afford to charge lower rates because the Dominion was smaller, but it was overlooked that a letter from New Zealand could be carried across the world for a penny. Moro recently the department, led by the Minister, has argued that th« improved services it is planning —particularly night mail flights between the capital cities—could not bo initiated if charges were to be reduced. It i* possible that the Minister would find, if he inquired, that the public as a whole would prefer the cheaper rates, and would be prepared to pay substantially in excess for internal air-delivereJ let | ters.