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The 6d. National Savings stamp was withdrawn from, sale on the 30th June, 1948. The only denomination of Thrift stamps (Id.) was withdrawn from sale on the 31st August, 1948. These stamps were issued in conjunction with the School Savings-bank scheme. OVERSEAS POSTAGE-RATES: REDUCTIONS AND ADJUSTMENTS Following upon Government's decision to bring the New Zealand exchangerate to parity with sterling, reductions were made, with effect from the 4th October, 1948, in certain overseas air-mail rates and in the rates charged on parcels for the United Kingdom. The main reductions were as follows: Air-mail letters for— United Kingdom and British countries Each half-ounce. in Europe and Africa . . . . Reduced from Is. 6d. to Is. 3d. Foreign countries in Europe, Africa, and Middle East . . . . .. Reduced from Is. 9d. to Is. 6d. India, Pakistan, Ceylon, Burma, Hong Kong . . . . . . . . Reduced from Is. 6d. to Is. Od. Indonesia, Malaya, Borneo . . . . Reduced from Is. 6d. to 9d. Canada and U.S.A. (by Pan-American service) . . . . . . Reduced from 2s. Od. to Is. 6d. Canada and U.S.A. (by B.C.P.A. service) Reduced from Is. 6d. to Is. 3d. Air letter-cards— For all destinations . . . . . . Reduced from Bd. to 6d. Parcels for United Kingdom— Weighing up to 3 lb. .. . . Reduced from 2s. Od. to Is. 9d. Exceeding 3 lb., but not exceeding 7 lb. Reduced from 3s. 4d. to 3s. Id. Exceeding 7 lb., but not exceeding 11 lb. Reduced from 4s. 6d. to 4s. 3d. Exceeding 11 lb., but not exceeding 22 lb. Reduced from 7s. Od. to 6s. 9d. The Universal Postal Union Convention fixes certain weight and postage rate scales for surface letters, printed papers, commercial papers, samples, and small packets transmitted in the international postal service. New Zealand is a member of the Universal Postal Union, and it was necessary during the year to bring New Zealand rates into conformity with the rates and scales fixed by the Paris Convention. This entailed making slight adjustments in some postagerates, and the necessary amendment to the Postal Regulations was made on the 7th July, 1948. In all cases the adjustments were concerned with weight modifications. A consequential adjustment entailed an alteration from a half"ounce to one ounce in the succeeding weight step for inland surface letters and surface letters for British countries. A further change made by the regulation was the application of the foreign rate to letters for Egypt, Iraq, Palestine, Transjordan, and Burma, countries which up to that time had enjoyed the Empire rate. OVERSEAS AIR MAILS Trans-Tasman Service During the year the weight of mail despatched from New Zealand by the trans-Tasman service was 128,889 lb. In the reverse direction, the weight of mail was 210,510 lb.

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