ice was in
operation, Canada was called upon to carry throughout her territory
parcels originating in the United States; and in June 1913, when the
success of the service in the United States was seen to be assured, a
Bill was introduced authorizing the establishment of a parcel post in
Canada.

There could be no question of applying a flat rate in a country of such
vast territories and scattered population;[731] and the Canadian system,
like the American, is based on zones of distance. The limits of the
zones correspond with the provincial boundaries. Each province forms a
zone, with a flat rate within its borders; a rate as for an additional
zone is charged on parcels crossing into an adjoining province; and a
rate as for a third zone on parcels crossing an intermediate province to
a third province; and so on. The three maritime provinces are grouped
together as one zone, and a special local zone rate is given for parcels
delivered within 20 miles of the place of posting. This local rate is
independent of the provincial boundaries. It is a concession to the
storekeepers of the smaller towns, given chiefly for their protection
against the competition of the great departmental stores of Montreal,
Toronto, and Winnipeg.

The determination of the actual amount of the rates was left to the Post
Office department, with the proviso that they must be such as would make
the service self-supporting.

The service was introduced in April 1914, with the following rates of
charge:--

(_a_) Five cents for the first pound and 1 cent for each additional
pound or fraction thereof, up to four pounds, and 2 cents for each
subsequent pound up to eleven pounds within a radius of 20 miles
from the place of mailing, irrespective of provincial boundaries.

(_b_) Ten cents for the first pound and 4 cents for each subsequent
pound or fraction thereof, for all points in the province in which
a parcel is posted, outside of the 20-mile radius.

(_c_) Ten cents for the first pound and 6 cents for each additional
pound or fraction thereof, for all points outside the province in
which a parcel is posted, and beyond the 20-mile radius, with an
additional charge of 2 cents a pound for each province that has to
be crossed to the destination of the parcel, not including the
province in which it is to be delivered, up to a maximum of 12
cents a pound.[732]

An additional charge