THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. TUESDAY, AUGUST 6, 1912 POSTAL NOTE FEES.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10687, 6 August 1912, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. TUESDAY, AUGUST 6, 1912 POSTAL NOTE FEES.

j Tho annual report of the Tost and Telegraph Department, just to ii-md, amhngst other 'matter, supplies returns of the Postal Note business for the year which ended 31st Maivh. 1912. During that period 1,821,5G8 •notes were issued, r.epresentiiiig a \alue of £57-1,979 18s 6d. . The Postal i\ ; ote commission amounted to £8 ; A)!j 13s 2d. No one will deny the convenience to the public of the postal note service, and it is growing in popular favour every year. The people have not yet stopped to ask why the Government should make such am enormous direct profit out of them, when they have the turnover and use of the money of the people. Why should the people pay moi'e poundage for a ■postal note with twenty slxilings printed thereon than they do for one with one shilling primtaed thereon? Jt may safely he said the depart men I. holds continuous'y a large balance of public money on account of motes issued. Taking as an average that postal Inote.M are 'held by the public for a week, the Government would make a pretty good sum out of fintercs-t. "When it is takcvi into consideration a;.d it is remembered that postal notes, as 'their name 'implies, ai'e used for making payments through the post, ■whik'h costs one penny for .posting a'nd frequently an acknowledgment is made costing another pciunv, it certainly seems remarkable that the public should be content to be m'ulcted in poundage fees for the use of the postal notes. If a Masterton resident buys 5s worth of goody from Wellington the payiruei'.i't of the money 'will benefit the Uoveiin.ment to the extent of threepence. The Department would make an enormous indirect profit out of postal notes .if they issued them free of poundage. An even charge of ono halfpenny to cover the cost of printing and paper would be reasonable. No doubt the •Department also makes a profit from notes t'hat are never presented ifor payment. At all eva its, in the course of the year, they ha .dlo j over half a million cf the people's , money, and xf thev only hold i't for a ■ week, at the ™te of 4 per cent, tho Department would benefit to the extent of between. £-100 and £SOO. Why them should the public be mulcted in fees to the extant of £8329 a year?

THE REFORM RALLY.

gathering hold in during the last few days, which culminated in a demonstration at tiio Town Hall last night, wtill be mom oral) lo in ftlio anln.ils of the Dominion. It is probably the iirst occasion upon which a 'body of political enthusiasts have assembled in. Wellington since the days of Ealianco and Scddon. Tiie u.nmirnity which prevailed was .remarkable, and the adoption of a constitution for the control of the Party aud the general advancement of the interests of [Reform will mark an epoch an our political .history. It is certain tb.-'t t-ho "Reform Party has come to st-.iv.