On October 1, 1891, the Australasian Governments entered the
Postal Union, and as to-day is the first anniversary of the event, it is a fit
occasion for a few words on this subject. It may be confidently affirmed that
this union has wrought as great, as beneficial, and as radical a change in
relation to the portage of the world as did Rowland Hill's celebrated penny
postage in the domestic postal economy of Great Britain. The credit of
conceiving the great idea belongs to Dr. Stephan, the celebrated director of
the Imperial German Post Office. It was not, however, until the first Postal
Convention met at Berne in October, 1874, that a treaty giving definite form to
the idea was adopted and signed by the representatives of nineteen European
countries, as well as by those of Egypt and the United States of America;
France withholding assent until the approval of the National Assembly could be
obtained. India was the first British dependency to seek ad- mission to the
union, joining with the French colonies in January, 1876.
Australasian Governments, though repeatedly urged by Dr.
Stephan to give in their adhesion, held aloof; being afraid of the loss of
revenue involved in the greatly reduced postage rates, calculated in 1880 at
nearly £54,000 per annum, and not being at all encouraged by British Post
Office officials of that day. In 1880, how-ever, Mr. Fawcett, the British Postmaster-General,
endeavoured to persuade them to join, offering to give them the British share
of profits on the Australasian postage, about £30,000 a year, towards making
good their loss. The matter was considered at a postal conference in Sydney in
1883, but the inevitable loss and the refusal to grant more than one vote to
the combined Australias led to a refusal. An additional reason for withholding
consent presented itself later on, when in view of the Postal Union Convention
of Lisbon in 1885, the German official gave notice of a proposition to largely
reduce the rate allowed for sea transit, a matter in which the Australian
Governments were greatly interested on account of the large subsidies paid by
them for the ocean mail services; while the high transit allowances paid to
France and Italy, for what was termed an extraordinary service, in conveying
Australian mails across their territory by a special train, and which has
always constituted an Australian grievance, was to be loft untouched. At the
conference, however, Great Britain in her own interest and that of her
dependencies was able to secure the adjournment of this important question. It
is worthy of note that Queensland, although outside the union, was represented
at Lisbon by Sir James F. Garrick and Mr. Hemmant, who acted as delegates,
though without votes.
Other countries continued from time to time to cast in their
lot with the union until at the end of 1890 Australasia and South Africa were
the only civilised, countries outside the pale. As the Postal Congress was to
meet at Vienna in the early part of 1891 the Australias were again urged by the
Postmasters-General of Germany, the United States, and Austria, not to delay
any longer to join the universal confederation, and at the Postal Convention
held in Sydney in February of that year it was decided that the delegates
should be instructed to apply for admission on condition that adequate
representation should be granted, and that the maritime transit rates should
not be reduced without the consent of the countries maintaining the ocean services,
Australian Governments were at last content to accept one federal vote, and
were admitted by acclamation, and their well considered but tardy adhesion was
the subject of much mutual congratulation. The union holds movable congress
every four years, and that of 1895 in to meet at Washington. It is quite within
the bounds of probability that a future congress will be in Australia. Having
said so much about its history it may be briefly stated that the primary object
of the union, and one that has been kept steadily in view all through, has been
the reduction of postage rates throughout the world. A secondary object has
been to simplify the arrangements for the reciprocal transmission of postal
matter between the various countries which it embraces. It is scarcely
necessary at this date to say that these objects have been fully attained.
Deepest interest must be felt in the results accomplished by this wonderful combination.
At the end of 1879 it represented 776 millions of the human race; and now, with
the single exception of South Africa, its boundaries are those of the world.
When it was first formed the postage rates were as various and diverse as the
political divisions of mankind. Take for instance those of Queensland. The
rates for half-ounce letters to the United Kingdom were, via Southampton, 6d.,
and via Brindisi 9d., while to Sweden, Norway, and Russia, 28. 7d. was the
charge. Compare these for a moment with the present universal rate of 2.5d.,
and see what the gain has been to the letter-writing public. Nor has the
reduction been confined to letters; all classes of correspondence have been proportionately
cheapened. Indemnities to a limited amount are given in event of the loss of
registered letters, and by paying a small fee, persons registering any article
of correspondence can obtain a receipt signed by the person to whom it is
delivered. In the older and more densely peopled countries arrangements are
made for the collecting of trade charges on articles of value sent to order
through the post, and for a special fee urgent letters are delivered by express
messenger. In the course of time these advantages will no doubt be extended to
Queensland. There is a singular coincidence in this, in that Mr. Unmack, who in
1879, as acting imperial German consul, at the instance of Dr. Stephan, urged
that Queensland should join the Postal Union, was himself the
Postmaster-General of Queensland when the junction was finally affected in
1891.
