House-to-house delivery of newspapers was introduced in 1828, the lowest charge (i.e. in addition to ordinary postage) being 30 pf. quarterly.
In 1872 a uniform delivery fee was fixed for town and country. For papers appearing weekly or less frequently the charge was 15 pf., for papers appearing two or three times weekly 25 pf., for papers appearing four to seven times weekly 40 pf., and for papers appearing more frequently than seven times weekly 50 pf. quarterly. The system of charging delivery fees has been continued, and those at present in operation are:—
| For each copy monthly | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (a) | For newspapers | delivered | less frequently than once a week | 2 | pf. |
| (b) | " | " | once a week | 4 | pf. |
| (c) | " | " | twice a week | 6 | pf. |
| (d) | " | " | thrice a week | 8 | pf. |
| (e) | " | " | four times a week | 10 | pf. |
| (f) | " | " | five times a week | 12 | pf. |
| (g) | " | " | six or seven times a week | 14 | pf. |
| (h) | " | " | eight times a week | 16 | pf. |
| (i) | " | " | nine times a week | 18 | pf. |
| (k) | " | " | ten times weekly | 20 | pf. |
| (l) | " | " | eleven times weekly | 22 | pf. |
| (m) | " | " | twelve to fourteen times weekly | 24 | pf. |
| (n) | " | " | fifteen times weekly | 26 | pf. |
| (o) | " | " | sixteen times weekly | 28 | pf. |
| (p) | " | " | seventeen times weekly | 30 | pf. |
| (q) | " | " | eighteen times weekly | 32 | pf. |
| (r) | For official gazettes | 2 | pf.[397] | ||
The delivery fees are collected in advance for the complete subscription period. In 1910 the amount collected for delivery in towns was 19,604,234 M., and for delivery in the country districts 5,770,896 M.
Note on Special Supplements.
Special advertisement supplements were permitted to be sent by post together with newspapers by the order of 30th September 1871. These supplements in form or character must not be similar to the main newspaper. They must not be printed at the same office, and no charge might be made for their insertion. A special supplement must not exceed one sheet and must not be bound. The newspapers in which they were inserted must bear a notification to that effect in a prominent position. All copies of the supplement must be submitted to the Post Office and the postage paid in advance. They were then stamped at the office of posting, and if not posted within three days the postage might be forfeited. The rate for each supplement was 1/12 sgr.[398]
The number of such supplements was not as great as was anticipated, the chief reason for which was that the postage was still too high and the regulations too complicated.
In 1873 the rate was reduced to ½ pf. for each copy, with a reduction of 50 per cent. when as many as 7,200 copies were posted at the same time. The obligation to submit all copies to the Post Office for stamping, and the requirement to post them within three days thereof, were at the same time removed, and the simple obligation to give previous notice
of posting substituted. The obligation to indicate on the newspapers that a special supplement was enclosed was also withdrawn.