POSTAL CONGRESS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXVIX, Issue 8129, 1 May 1906, Page 5

POSTAL CONGRESS.

ROME, April 29. At the sitting of the International Postal Congress, yesterday, Sir Joseph Ward, Postmaster-General of New Zealand, moved his motion in favour of universal penny postage. Sir Joseph's speech which was of an hour's duration created a favourable impression and he was warmly cheered at its conclusion. The debate on the motion was adjourned uDtil Taesday.

SIR J. U. WARD'S SPEECH. Received April 30, 11.28 p.m. ROME, April 30 v . In his speech at the Congress, Sir J. G. Ward declared that universal peony postage worked well in New Zealand nationally, commercially, domestically and financially. There was a distinct trend towards that system Jthrouchout the world, and he expected before the next Congress that every civilised country in the world would have adopted it. There had been no alteration in the Postal Union letter rates for 32 years, although the cost of transit and postal administration had been enormously reduced. If Congress affirmed of the principle he hoped that any country establishing universal penny postage would have its letters delivered ,within the Postal Union without any surcharge or restriction. He was glad to see that the United States Government favoured reducing the postage. Since Great Britain had already established inland penny and Imperial penny post it was only logical that she should crown her work by throwing weight into the broader scale of universality.