GROUP OF SENIOR OFFICERS IN 1898
C. STEWART-WILSON G. S. CURTIS W. MAXWELL C. J. BADSHAH
J. CORNWALL H. M. KISCH SIR ARTHUR FANSHAWE A. T. FORBES
Director General
Since the Great War broke out in 1914 it has been found necessary to increase inland postage rates for both letters and parcels. In 1918 the letter rates were fixed as follows:—
| For letters: Not exceeding 1 tola | ½ | anna. |
| Exceeding 1 tola, but not exceeding 2½ tolas | 1 | " |
| For every additional 2½ tolas or part thereof | 1 | " |
| For parcels: Not exceeding 20 tolas | 2 | annas. |
| Exceeding 20 tolas, but not exceeding 40 tolas | 4 | " |
| For every additional 40 tolas or part thereof | 4 | " |
Many complaints were received that the parcel rates were excessive and injuring the fruit trade and other local industries, so that with effect from the 1st June, 1919, the rates were reduced to 3 annas for every 40 tolas up to 440 tolas, the minimum of 2 annas for 20 tolas remaining the same.
FOOTNOTE:
[6] The first instance of an article being prohibited from passing through the post is that of the Bengal Gazette (editor, J. A. Hicky), quoted by Dr. Busteed in his Echoes of Old Calcutta:
"Order. Fort William, November 14th, 1780. Public notice is hereby given that as a weekly newspaper called the Bengal Gazette or Calcutta General Advertiser, printed by J. A. Hicky, has lately been found to contain several unbroken paragraphs tending to vilify private characters and to disturb the peace of the Settlement, it is no longer permitted to be circulated through the channel of the General Post Office."