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RAILWAY CHARGE STAMP

ISSUED.

On 31^st August 1925 the initial issue comprised 1/2d, 1d, 2d, 3d, 6d, 9d, 1s, 1s6d, 2s, 2s6d and 5s value. Because of the demand for stamps to the value of 8d for carriage of single bushel cases of fruit, an 8d value was added and distributed to station in July 1926. On 29^th October 1928 a 10s value was also available. For some years the two highest values (5s and 10s) were commonly fixed to Excess Luggage tickets to pay charges, a practise that had ceased by June 1932. Many stocks of the 10s value were returned at this time to the Chief Accountant’s Office. The higher values remained available but apparently little were used over the next few years.

In October 1933, following the cessation of sales to private persons and restriction of sales to those made in bulk, stationmasters were instructed to return any stock surplus to their needs. Some stamps returned were overprinted “Cancelled” and others were destroyed by the Senior Audit Inspector.

In 1949 the 5s and 10s values were reported as “not now used” and the department stated on 31^st October 1969 “The only stamps apparently in use in 1959 when the system was discontinued were in denominations of 1/2d, 1d, 2d, 3d, 6d, and 1s”.

STATION OVERPRINTS

All the “NZR Railway Charges” stamps were overprinted before issue with the station names “to reduce the possibility of fraud to a minimum”. Names were often abbreviated for example MD’ MARCH for MIDDLEMARCH. Flag station, where stamps were available used stamps were overprinted with the name of the controlling station. Cancellations show this use e.g “OWHANGO” on stamp overprinted “NAT.PARK, “WALTON” on stamp overprinted “MATAMATA. Stamps used without overprint are occasionally seen.

“RAILWAY CHARGE STAMPS”

1925 – Surface-printed at the Government Printing Office, Wellington in sheets of 100 (10+10), changed in 1928 to 120 (10+12) on horizontal or vertical mesh wove papers, occasionally watermarked ROUGHWAY BONB in double-lined capitals 11.5mm high in two lines.

Design.

The design consisted of a large figure of value in condensed sans-serif type and with a round stop below the D of pence values except the 1/2d, 8d, and early printings of the 1d. Surrounding the value is a vertical coloured oval band with “N.Z.R” at the top and “RAILWAY CHARGES” at the bottom, in uncoloured seriffed letters. At each corner of the design is the front of a steam locomotive, the steam locomotive, the smoke from the funnels forming a frame. Above the oval is a crown and below a pair of winged flanged wheels.

The basic design surrounding the figure of value was common to all values, but in the 9d a section of rail was added at the foot. Presumably a frame die was made up and from this subsidiary dies for the different values were made from which the clichés for each plate was reproduced.

The original plate made up was 10 rows of 10, altered in 1928 to 10rows of 12. Examinations of a full sheet of 120 of the 6d value show that the space between the 2^nd and 3^rd stamps in each row is constantly greater than between all other columns. As well the lettering “N.Z.R.” and “RAILWAY CHARGES” is thicker (and constant) in the first two stamps of each row. This suggest that the plate size was increased, at least initially simply by adding two clinches to each row.

The 100-impression plate for the 1/2d, 2d. & 1s values shows a repetition of flaws 5 rows apart and suggest use of a stereo of 5 rows repeated twice. However the interval between other examples varies and the evidence for a systematic plate made up from individual clichés is inconclusive. The filled A in WAY is a constant variant.

RATES

A stamped parcel system was introduced on 31^st August 1925 with the “RAILWAY CHARGES” stamps were parcels had to be prepaid where parcels were despatched from officered stations. When railage was not prepaid an additional 25% was charged with a mimimum additional charge of 3d and maximum of 1s. The earlier Newspaper stamps were withdrawn. Rates were.

3lbs 6d for all distances

7lbs 6d up to 50 mls, 1s over 50mls

56lbs 1s 6d to 30mls, 2s6d up to 100mls, 3s 9d up to 200mls, 5s up to 300mls 6s over 300mls.

Additional Charges:

6d per cwt or part on parcels to – Auckland, Frankton Junction, Hamilton, Wanganui, Palmerston Nth, Ell., CHCH., Dunedin., Inv. , rate and a quarter – various specific commodities (mostly bulky items)

Double rate – canoes: Crackers, Chines: or Fuse (Maximum wght of 14lbs of Chinese Crackers by any one train.)

Stamps were used on parcels carried on Lake Wakatipu and over unopened lines operated by the Public Works Department.

The 25% additional charge was abolished on 11^th October, 1928 required for sur-charge on to-pay parcels so the advantages of using stamps for payment largely disappeared and use was greatly reduced from this time on. 1933 sale of stamps was restricted to those purchasers who brought them in bulk.

A new parcels system was inaugurated on 29^th April, 1951 (Stamps were only to be used on newspapers and stereotype casts) A revision of rates were made in Dec 1951

See new rates at end of value section.