New-York tribune., 1912-03-01
PARCELS POST IN BRITAIN
Ambassador Reid Tells of It's
Usefulness.
from The Tribune Bureau.

Washington, Feb 29.-Thc American
Amba ssador at London, in reply 10 re-
quest from the Department Of state for
parcels post data" submits an interesting
presentation of this national utility In
Great Britain and ireland. The service has
been in opera ton twcnty-eight years and
has proved an indispensable facility and
factor in the economy Of daily life, both
business and domestic. Without describing
the system i'm detail. facts are given which
successfully controvert the contention that
parcels post Is nimical 10 any interests,
either commercial or individual
The railway companies are bound by law
To transport all parcel mails delivered 10
them by the Postmaster General or his
agents. for which service they receive 80
per cent Of the postage on all mail-borne
parcels. The limit of weight Of parcels is
eleven pounds. The rate is six cents for
tho first pound and proportionately less for
increa Sod weights. the total charge for
eleven pounds being 90 cents. Parcels arc
delivered to addresses. Letters and par
GELS are delivered by the same poStman,
except in the larger towns. where special
staff j. provided. II is remarked that the
opcratior of the parcels post has caused no
serious difficulty or delay in the transmis-
sion of letters
The amba sSador SAYS that before its in
stitution the parcels post was bitterly op-
posed by the shopkeepera in the small
towns. aud every effort was made 10y
this class To- prevent its adoption, but pub
lie opinion was in its favor and 'sinco its
Introduction there has been no kind of or
ganiycd protest against its continuance.
either from carriers. the smaller retail d"al-
ers or Other" Speaking of carriers similar
fo American express companies, parcel de-
livery agencies and local on-postal car
ricrs IN rural districts. In" amba sSador
SAYS that. as parcels post rates ar" based
on weight irrespective of distance, while
other carriers rates are also graduated
according 20 distance a large percentage OF
short distance parcels. including those for
delivery in towns are ntrusted 10 priNai"
agencies. while the postofiicc receives most
long diatanc" parcels.
The parcels post. says the ambassador,
was established not to compete with exist
ing carrying agencies but 10 supplement
them in WAYS in which they had shown
themselves unable or unwilling To meet the
public convenience.
referring 10 the attitud" al the people
toward % parcels post. the amba ssador adds
THAT there is reason Ia thiuk that the ser
vicc is much appreciate by the general
public as parcels can be posted at any Of
the 5000 postofiices in the kingdom for
delivery at any address however remote.
for uniform and well known charges.
Among IN" articles which may he sent
by the British farmer or country merchant
or fisherman Ia the city purchaser are eggs.
fish. meat, fruit and vegetables. The gross
revenue last year from the parcels post
was 81 5000
Amba syador Rcid's report is 80 german"
10 the needs of an American parcels post
that IL is likely 10 figure prominently IN
the discussion OF tho details of the system
SO much NEEDED In this country