TREASURY MINUTE ON POSTAGE.
Doted the 12th November 1839.
My Lords read the act 2d and 3d Viet., cap. 52, for the further regulation of the Duties on Postage until the 5th October 1840. Since the prorogation of Parliament, my Lords have turned their unremit- ting attention to the measures necessary for carrying into effect the intention of the Legislature. The powers with which this Board are invested by the act, were recom- mended to Parliament, not only for the purpose of enabling any Lords to adopt such mode of payment as might, on coneideration, appear the most advisable, but also to enable my Lords to carry into practical effect this great alteration in the manner which might be least liable to derange the regularity and the despatch of the correspondence of the country, as now executed by the Post- office.
My Lords have always been aware that the contemporaneous adoption of the charging letters by weight, and the reduction of postage ton uniform rate of one penny, would be attended with much practical difficulty. The time occu- pied now at the large offices and at the forward offices in charging and sorting the letters has been reduced, for the public convenience, to as narrow limits as possible. To alter the mode of charge front that to which the officers of the Post-office have been long accustomed, must of itself, for a time, be accompa- nied with some inconvenience, and my Lords apprehend it would be imprudent to increase that difficulty by adding at the same moment so large a number of letters as must naturally arise from the immediate reduction to the penny rate. My Lords fear that, for a time at least, great irregularities would pre- vail and much public inconvenience result. However satisfactory, therefore, and however desirable in many points of view it might be to carry into execu- tion contemporaneously the complete plan, their Lordships, upon a full consi- deration, have come to the conclusion that by adopting some intertnediate measure, and bringing into operation the mode of charging the letters by weight, previous to the entire reduction of the rate of postage, their Lordships will not only avoid the risk to which the other course is liable, but materially facilitate the introduction of the remaining parts of the plan.
With these opinions, their Lordships have, in communication with the autho- rities of the Post-office, turned their attention to the framing such regulations as may introduce, with as little delay as possible, the charge by weight.
Their Lordships .propose to accompany this arrangement with such reduction of restage as will be a. material relief to the public, and not interfere with the. proper discharge of the duties of the officers of the Post-office as at present ar- ranged.
By the regulations which, in conjunction with the Post-office, have been matured, and which this Board praqeme to sanctiou, my Lords apprehend mate- rial advantages will he secured. A considerable relief will be given to the entitle as regards the charge of letters. One of the great departmental dile nculties in introducing the penny rate will be removed, and slues information be obtained as will enable my Lords to adopt with more security, and conse- quently at an earlier period, the remaining part of the system. In giving their sanction to the proposed arrangement, any Lords consider it as a temporary measure ouly, and as a step to the introduction of the penny charge; and their Lordships will continue their anxious efforts to give efieet to the whole of the intentions of the Legislature with as little delay as is con-
sistent with the due consideration of the public convenience. Their Lordships are pleased to direct that all letters posted on or after the 5th December next
shall be subject to the following regulations—
General Post letters shall be charged by weight, as follows- 1. Letters not exceeding e• ounce, one postage. Do. 1 ounce, two postages. Do. 2 minces, four postages. Do. 3 ounces, six postage& and so on, adding two postages for every ounce up to sixteen ounces, beyond which no packet subject to postage shall be received. 2. All single postagerates between places within the United Kingdom, which now exceed 4d., shall be reduced to that sum ; inferior rates to remain undis- turbed, but the letters to be charged by weight. Additional charges to which General Post letters are now liable if posted or delivered beyond the limits of the General Post free delivery, as also the additional halfpenny on Scotch letters, and the additional penny for passing the Menai nnd Conway Bridges, to cease. 3. All letters and packets exceeding the weight of one ounce to be pre-paid and delivered in at the window ; if not so pre-paid and delivered, to be charged double postage. Foreign letters and packet letters will be charged according to the preceding Scale of weights. Letters to and front the British West Indies to be charged Is. per single rate; the same charge to attach to letters from and to Gibraltar, Malta, and. the Ionian Isles, conveyed by packet, and not transmitted through France. My Lords reserve for future consideration the whole question of the rates on foreign letters, as their Lordships consider that it will be a proper subject for commmecation with Foreign Powers, in the hope that such Foreign Powers may be Induced to make a corresponding reduction in their charges on letters to and from this country. All ship letters between parts of the United Kingdom, including the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man, to be charged by weight and according to the rates chargeable on inland letters. Other ship letters to be charged by weight, according to the foregoing scale, the single sea postage remaining as at present, and the inland rate being regulated as for inland letters. London District Post, including, 2d. and 3d. delivery; 1. All letters not exceeding halt' au ounce, provided the postage be pre-paid, to be charged one penny. 2. The twopenny charge on General Post letters delivered in the London district to cease.
3. No further alteration to be made in the charges leviahln in the London district post. My Lords have no intention, by the present arrangement, to make any alteration with respect to newspapers, franked letters, or Parliamen- tary papers, which will still continue to enjoy time Caine privileges, awl be sub- ject to the same charges, as at present. Transmit copy of this minute officially to the Postmaster. General, and. de- sire his Lordship will give the necessary instructions to his offiecrs to carry the directions of my Lords into Meet.
Desire also that he will direct the Solicitor of the Post-office to prepare a draft of a warrant its conformity with the provisions of the postage acts, to be signed by my Lords, anti inserted in the Gazette.
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