Note 523 — IV MINOR RATES

A proposal to introduce postcards in France was made by M. Wolowski in the National Assembly on the 23rd August 1871, in the debate on the Bill for raising the rates of postage. The proposal was rejected on account of the probable effect on the revenue. The cards would no doubt substitute letters to some extent, and at the time, of course, the chief object in view was an increase of revenue. M. Wolowski repeated his proposal in 1873 as an amendment to the Budget. He was able to point to the effect in England of the introduction of postcards—an increase of 6 per cent. in the number of letters, as compared with an increase of 6 per cent. in the year preceding their introduction. The proposal was opposed by the Budget Commission and by the Government, but the amendment was voted by the Assembly and was incorporated in the law of the 20th December 1872. The rate of postage was fixed at 10 centimes for cards circulating within the area served by the same office and 15 centimes for others. (The minimum letter rate was at this time 15 centimes for letters circulating in the area served by the same office and 25 centimes for others.) In 1878 the rate was made uniform at 10 centimes for all cards. This rate still continues in respect of cards bearing written messages in the nature of personal communications, but it has been reduced to 5 centimes in respect of picture postcards or commercial advertisement cards which do not boar a written communication of more than five words. The circulation of postcards is naturally much restricted, and the reduction of the general rate to 5 centimes is much desired. There has been a good deal of discussion of the matter by the parliamentary Budget Commissions, but financial considerations have so far prevented the concession of this boon.