AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

Waikato Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1532, 29 April 1882, Page 2

AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

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SATURDAY, APRIL 29, 1882.

The improvements which have recently been effected in tjie English postal system by Professor Fawcett, the further changes contemplated, together with the attention which the subject is receiving in the neighbor colony of , Victoria, have naturally awakened some interest in the matter in New Zealand. The introduction of the penny postage, system here would, no doubt, prove of great benefitto the public. Indealing with the question, financial considerations will have to be carefully weighed. It is true that the colony is fast recovering its equilibrium ; the Customs revenue for the three months ending 31st March last is the largest contribution ever derived from this source in any quarter, while it is anticipated that the total Customs revenue for the year will amount to .£1 28,000 over Major Atkinson's estimate, and about Jil 62,000 over the revenue of the previous year. It is also well known that a very appreciable saving has been effected by judicious amalgamation of offices in the Civil Service, and by cutting down the ordinary expenditure in our directions. In other departments the estimate will not be reached, but the goods will far outweigh the evil. In order to give an idea of the extent to which the revenue "would be affected by a reduction in the postage from twopence to a penny we quote the following from the Melbourne Ago :—: — " The ponny postage question was brought before the Cabinet on Monday. Some calculations bearing 1 upon the probable loss of revenue in the event of the postage rate on letters despatched inland being reduced from 2d to Id were submitted by the PostmasterGeneral. If such a reduction is agreed upon, it is estimated to entail a loss of £55,000 per year in revenue. The Cabinet, liowGvor, has resolved to propose to Parliament that the reduction be made. The view Ministers take of the matter is that the loss of revenue which will be experienced for the first year or so after the introduction of the penny postage rates will gradually disappear, and that an equal amount of revenue will be received in six or seven years' time; or, in other words, that the reduction of the postage rates will have the effect of doubling, or at all ovents largely increasing 1 , the number of letters sent." The Wtm~ (/(inui Herald (Mr lialhinco's paper) noticing the Af/e'tt remarks says :—: — " Though we have not more thau two-thirds of the population of Victoria, yet we have more than a corresponding postal revenue, and there is reason to suppo.se that the reduction of the postage would immediately be met b}' a great increase in the number of letters sent through the post. In other words, if Aye adopted a penny postage, we should not lose anything like one half the revenue on letters. The Colonial Treasurer in 1878 stated in the House that the change would entail a loss to the revenue of about £20,000 a year. When we estimate the enormous advantage to the community of such a reduction in the rate of postage, it is not difficult to suppose that the revenue could afford to part with the amount without injury to the stability of our finance, or embarrassment to the Colonial Treasurer." The sum now would, of course, be much greater, though the colony is even in a better position to bear the temporary loss than it was in 1878. It may be doubted, however, whether, in view of the evidont intention of Parliament to incur fresh liabilities, it is wise just now to diminish the supply of revenue from this source. The postal system form of taxation is a fair and equitable one, and cannot bo said to be in any way burdensome.