The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1876-04-22
International Postal Union.

To the Editor Of The Pacific Commercial Advertiser /:
SIR The attention Of the public has been call
ed lately to the International Postal Union and its
advantages. and more recently in an article in the
Gdzetfe, wherein we are informed that there is q
fair prospect of Hawaii joining the same, and that
we shall thereby enjoy greater benefits than we do
now, &c. &c.
To the casual observer the benefits offered by
the Postal Union seem great, and no doubt they
are so TO those countries who have not the advan-
tages of postal treaties such as we are now enjoy
ing with the United States but on a careful read
ing of the Berne Treaty, | fail very much to see
any good that will result to the majority Of our
foreign letter writing public. or to this govern
ment, by throwing overheard the treaty We now
have in order to enter into the Postal Union. The
fact that New Zealand declines to enter the same
shows me that | am not alone in this view and by
the following extracts from the treaty | trust TO
show obvious reasons to careful observers why it
would be a move backward for Hawaii to enter
the league.
Art. 3 of the treaty relates to rates of letter post
age, twenty-five confines Tor five cents) for a sin
gle rate prepaid letter of afteen grammes or half
ounce, but option is reserved to each country
this charge, providing it does not exceed thirty
two or go below twenty centimes."
The charge on unpaid letters shall be double
the rate levied in the country OF destination on
prepaid letters"
For all conveyance by sea Of more than 800
nautical miles within the district of the Union,
there NAV be Joined to the ordinary postage an
Shl - WhANc IH'AA - NoNNNA ~ fNAf
of the general Union rate fixed for a paid letter.
According to this clause We would have TO pay
seven and a half cents on each rate, instead OF the
six we are now paying. or the five promised.
Art. 4 relates to rates for - legal and commercial
ocument patterns of merchandise, newspapers,
stitched or bound books, pamphlets, music, visit
ments," &c, &c, which is Fixed at seven centimes
for each single packet. 'Opuon is f" again re
served " for this class "of levying
a higher or lower rate provided il does
not axoaoI alayan N no haIoxy five oapffpaaa -
" Every packet of afty grammes 1.-TWO ounces) or
fractions thereof shall constitute a single packet"
The maximum weight of the above is fixed at
$50 grammes for patterns Of merchandise, and 1000
grammes for all the Others"
Art. 10 provides for payment TO the country
providing transit of two francs per kiiogramme for
letters and twenty-five eentimes per kilogramme
for articles specified in Art. 4, when transit is pro-
vided of more than $50 kilometers in length over
the territory Of one office unless the transit is
already gratuitOus or subject to lower rates"
From this / have yet to learn wherein we would
be benefited by the Union. Without doubt there
are a number who would be favored by the
change. but not the majority, and all would have
TO contribute from the taxes TO meet the deficit in
the postal department, which would result more
from the articles mentioned in Art. 4 than from
letters but even on this description Of apparent
favored material, - there is reserved TO the govern
ment Of each country OF the Union the right TO
refuse to convey over its territory or 10 deliver
articles specified in the present article" a. " with
regard to which the laws, orders and DEGREES
which regulate the conditions Of their publication
and circulation have not been Observed What a
6ne opportunity here would be Of having our mail
matter OF this class stopped by any one Of the sew
eral countries OF the Union through which IL might
have to pass, and perhaps from no intentional
fault, but so construed by other nations. An ex-
cellent trap to bring v~exatious labor for diplomats
and ambassadors, surely!
On enquiry / End that the proportion Of mail
matter to Europe and other places other than the
United States, stands less than one-quarier for the
former to three-quarters for the latter, | will
therefore leave it for each reader to examine into.
and draw his own conclusion from this exhibit as
to =" how it would operate here as ] have done.
AS you remark in your article on this subject ia
the issue Of April.Sth " the detailed regulations
are extremely lengthy and complicated and grave
doubts may well be entertained OF the wisdom Of
this small nation entering into a cum
bersome and entangling foreign alliance Of this
nature"
The progressive step would seem rather to begin
reductions at home. We have no ground for com
plant of foreign postal charges when we compare
the same with our own rates. az the following com
parative charges will show. On papers, Hawaiian
postage is two cents, and United States postage
is one cent each. On music, pamphlets and maya
zines, Hawaiian postage rates are up to fifty pages,
four cents, over City and mp TO 200 pages, eight
cents, over 200 pages, twelve cents, without re-
gard to size or weight. United States postage on
the same is four cents per four ounces or fraction
thereof, which is a fair way Of arriving at ? pro-
portionate scale Of charges commensurate With its
value. Bound books, patterns and samples are
charged two cents per ounce or part thereof Ha-
waiian. aud four cents per four ounces or parI
thereof United States.
Now for the receiving and handling Of this class
of mail matter in our post Office, why should this
government Charge double what the United States
does, that has more work herewith and expenses
thereon by far than We haveG
II it Is the desire Of this country 10 keep pace
with other nations in providing cheap postage. its
most legitimate duty is 10 begin at home aud
herein il a work for the coming Legislature. to re-
wise our postal laws and rates. both foreign and
domestic. THOs. g.. THRUN.