2036

THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.

[No. 60

ment must be supplied without question provided the usual certificate is supplied by the sub-enumerator on form Acct. 137. The approval of the Under-Secretary is unnecessary.

233. Upon presentation of a request signed by the Officer Commanding the District, Postmasters are authorized to supply official stamps to officers in charge of units of the Military Forces in exchange for the equivalent in cash. The Postmaster is to supply a receipt for the cash on the form of application.

234. Chief Postmasters may send supplies of official stamps through Postmasters to local officers of other Departments.

235. Official stamps may be supplied to non-permanent offices on requisition. Commission is to be paid in accordance with Rule 215.

236. Official stamps may be sold to the public on demand, on the understanding that they cannot be used in prepayment of the charges on private postal packets or telegrams or for other purpose connected with the Post and Telegraph Department.

237. Official stamps are not to be accepted from the public under any circumstances.

238. Special stamps of the denominations ½d., 1d., 1½d., 2d., 3d., and 6d. are issued for the Government Insurance Department. These stamps form part of the stamp balance, and are to be supplied to officers of the Government Insurance Department, on receipt of the cash for the value supplied, in the same manner as official stamps. Poundage is not to be paid by the Post Office. The use of the stamps is limited to the prepayment of postage on letters and articles contained in the Government Insurance Department’s official envelopes, the prepayment of charges on telegrams on Government Insurance business, and the payment of surcharges on correspondence. They cannot be used for the prepayment of postage on postal packets for places beyond the Dominion.

AUTOMATIC STAMPING-MACHINE.

239. Machines may be installed only in such towns as the Postmaster-General has approved, and up to the number authorized. The Automatic Franking-machine Company is to obtain from the Secretary permission so to install machines. When the permission is given, the company will place the machine in position, and inform the Chief Postmaster of the district when it is ready for use.

240. The Controller of Accounts should be duly advised of each installation. In the case of an installation at Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin, or Wellington the Superintendent should also be advised, as impressions are accepted on telegrams.

241. All machines to be newly installed, and also machines issued in place of those removed for repairs, before leaving the factory of the company are to be thoroughly tested by a selected Postal officer, and the dials set back at zero, the machines thereupon being locked and sealed. The certificate of the Postal officer, with impressions of the dies and keys of the machine to be issued are forwarded to the Chief Postmaster or Postmaster, as the case may be, of the place where the machine is to be installed. Each die has a distinctive mark and number, and the engraver marks against each impression the peculiarity of each die. It is very important that these impressions be carefully kept, as they serve as a check on the impressions on letters or telegrams. The keys of the machine must be kept in safe custody by the Chief Postmaster or Postmaster. They should be used only when it is found necessary to repair damage to the machine. The seal is to be broken only by a responsible Postal officer deputed for the purpose by the Chief Postmaster or Postmaster.