XN000022-1975-12-04 — Page 3

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1975

AMONG OTHER TARIFF CHANGES, THERE WILL BE INCREASES IN THE STORAGE FEE FOR UNCOLLECTED PARCELS AND A DELIVERY FEE FOR BUSINESS REPLY LETTERS. THE FORMER IS NECESSARY BECAUSE OF THE HIGH COST OF PROVIDING STORAGE SPACE FOR THE LARGE NUMBER OF UNCOLLECTED PARCELS. THE LATTER IS REQUIRED BECAUSE THE SERVICE HAS BEEN PROVIDED VIRTUALLY FREE OF CHARGE AND AT CONSIDERABLE COST TO THE POST OFFICE FOR MANY YEARS.

THE INLAND POSTCARD RATE (15 CENTS) WILL BE ABOLISHED AS IT IS RARELY USED AND POSTCARDS WILL BE TREATED AS LETTERS. THIS WILL NOT AFFECT PRINTED CARDS WHICH WILL STILL BE ADMISSIBLE AT THE 10-CENT PRINTED PAPER RATE.

THE PREFERENTIAL SURFACE LETTER RATES TO COMMONWEALTH COUNTRIES WILL ALSO BE ABOLISHED ON JANUARY 1. +THERE IS NO LONGER ANY JUSTIFICATION FOR SUCH PREFERENTIAL POSTAGE RATES TO CONTINUE, AND A NUMBER OF COMMONWEALTH COUNTRIES, INCLUDING THE UNITED KINGDOM, HAVE ALREADY ABOLISHED THEM,+ THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

SURFACE PARCEL CHARGES WILL ALSO BE INCREASED AS A RESULT OF HIGHER DELIVERY FEES TO BE PAID TO OTHER ADMINISTRATIONS AND THERE ARE CERTAIN CHANGES TO THE AIR PARCEL TARIFF.

NOTE TO EDITORS:

A TABLE SHOWING THE PRINCIPAL POSTAGE RATES EFFECTIVE FROM JANUARY 1, 1976 WILL BE PUT IN THE G.I.S. PRESS BOX FOR COLLECTION THIS EVENING.

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