NOTES FROM THE CAPITAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 25 February 1916, Page 7

NOTES FROM THE CAPITAL.

.AN AUSTRALIAN VISITOR. (From Our Own Correspondent.) Wellington, Feb. 23. The Commonwealth PostmasterGeneral (Hon. W. Webster) is in Wellington at the present tints on a visit undertaken for the purpose of studying the postal methods of this Dominion, Yesterday he had a long interview with the Secretary of the Post and Telegraph Department, Mr. W. E. Morris, and made an inspection of the Chief Post Office. In the course of an interview Mr. Webster said that he had been interested to learn that Xew Zealand, like. Australia, had experienced difficulty in connection- with soldiers' mails, ' His own Department had received many complaints regarding the non-delivery of letters, delay in delivery and so on after the departure of the Australian troops for the front and specially after the. landing on Oallipoli. The difficulties to be overcome in the handling of a very large volume of mail matter under the eonditinr,? created by the Saliinoli campaign hrd been cnornio's. He hoped that' ihe troubles had no v been over come, since a fully equipped postal unit had been sent from Australia to Egypt to take charge of the postal arrangements.

AUSTRALIAN POSTAL MATTERS. The visitor mentioned that the Australian Postal Department had produced a stamped letter card and a printed envelope for use in connection with the troops. These articles would he issued shortly and they would simplify the work of the postal authorities by indicating to the public how communications for the men at the front should be addressed. The work of sorting would be expedited and delivery would be hastened. Referring to postal matters generally, Mr. Webster said that the Commonwealth Government had not yst found it necessary to suspend the penny postage, though the need for increasing the revenue in war time had been felt. The telephone rates had bee» raised recently, and he anticipated that lie would have to increase the telegraph rate, as New Zealand had done already, and make certain alterations in regard to postage. He did not mean that the postal rate would be increased, hut there would be a revision of postal facilities in other directions. TROOPS AT SALONIKA. A' cablegram published to-day reports that "A magnificent body of colonial troops" have reached Salonika among the reinforcements for the Allied troops at that point. Your correspondent made inquiries with a view to ascertaining if the New Zealand division was included in this force, but was informed officially that no information is yet to hand on that point. The probabilities are that the New Zealanders have not yet been returned to a front, since the extensive reorganisation in connection with" the creation of a New Zealand division, involving the formation of a third infantry brigade from accumulated reinforcements, can hardly have been completed yet. The provision of a full supply of officers for the new brigade, by means of promotions from the ranks of the Anzac veterans, will be in itself a task of considerable magnitude. . THE'BOAHP.OF TRADE. The Board of Trade will begin its duties on March 1 st. "I intend to meet the-members of.the Board, of which I am president, on that day and discuss the position with them," said the Prime Minister to-day. "I have nq doubt that they will be able to begin their activities at once. There is plenty of work for them to do." ' Mr, Ma'ssey did not indicate what he expected the Board to do first. It is ejected that the members will desire to undertake a general survey of matters connected with the cost of living before they turn to detailed work. Flour aiid sugar are two articles that .are- likely to require theit attention. . An increase in the price of sugar is hinted at.