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Waikato Times, Volume XXX, Issue 2422, 19 January 1888, Page 2

Tin-' Intercolonial Po.st.il Conference i-o he held in Melbourne should bo productive of very beneficial results. Dub of the most important questions that will be introduced is that of establishing a uniform rate of postage throughout the colonics and to tlio .Mother Country. There is another phase of this question that • hoiild not escape consideration, and for which the time is ripe, and that is the reduction of the inland postage from twopence to one penny. \ ears ago the New Zealand telegraph tarilf for ordinary messages was lowered from the (inferential rate to a general half - cr.nvn rate with good results. Soon after, that was again reduced to a uniform charge of one shilling on ordinary messages of ten words, with the result that the business and revenue of the Telegraph Department increased both in popularity and proportions to an extent that exceeded all expectation. The inland rate of postage, on the other hand, has remained unaltered. It is altogether incongruous and contrary to logical reasoning that :i letter from Hamilton to Cambridge, for instance, should cost as much for transit as one from the former place to Western Australia. We need not illustrate the extraordinary benefits conferred by Sir Rowland Hill's reform and the introduction of the penny postage in the United Kingdom ; they are familiar to everyone. But we maintain that the inland rate of postage in New Zealand should certainly be reduced to one pennv. The conditions of the colony with increased population and the many facilities of inter-communication byrail and sea, which render transit easy and rapid to all parts of the colony, all contribute to make things favourable for the change proposed. Public feeling is prepared for, and indeed has been expecting the reform, for some time ; and we feel assured the gain thereby to tho ie\enue would lie very great;. This is :i matter our (lovernment should give its attention to during tho recess.