1d value for Pigeons?

[Revenuer]

Looking for help to identify the usage of the below 1d value. It has been suggested it was used to send boxed homing pigeons for release.

I do have a revenue web site with some Tasmania content: http://www.ozrevenues.com

Dave

[admin]

Dave,
Owen Ingles presented his collection of Railway Parcel Stamps at a TPS meeting earlier this year. I am almost certain he said the 1d was used for pigeons. Sorry I cant be 100% sure but will see if I can verify this.
Pete

[Alex Green]

The 1d. paid the charge for the return of an empty pigeon cage.

Evidently the TGR maintained a service transporting and releasing homing pigeons at specific points along the railway lines.

[John Shepherd]

Like Pete I can recall Owen stating the 1d value was for pigeon cages. I think we should be cautious though in assuming that the 1d value was exclusively for that service in the absence of a published rate schedule from the TGR.

[Revenuer]

1d rate must have been for uses other than pigeons.

I have 2x1d values in different fonts .

These two copies of the 1d appear to be the only survivors to date, unless somebody reading this has a copy?

I should have said from the start Owen Ingles kindly passed on the Pigeon box theory to me.

Any Tasmania viewers up for a visit to archives to sort this out once and for all?

Dave

[Alex Green]

A newspaper piece regarding Homing Pigeons from The Mercury of 28 February 1910:

North Hobart Society.-The above society held a singled out race from Campania on Saturday, for which 14 entries wore received, all starting. The weather, was fine and favourable for homing...The thanks of the society are due to the station master for liberating the birds. The next race will be from Colebrook.

[Alex Green]

The Mercury, Friday 28 september 1917, p.6

Loss of Homing Pigeon

Action Against Railway Department

Burnie, September 27

At the Court of Requests to-day the liability of the Railway Deprtment for overcarrying goods was brought under review. William Billing, a member of the Burnie Homing Society, sought to recover £5 from the Commissioner of Railways because a pigeon consigned from Burnie to Railton had been carried onto Kimberley, and there released. It did not return to the owner's loft, and the plaintiff claimed that this was due to the department's wilful neglect and wilful misconduct.

The defence was that the bird had been carried under low rate conditions, which freed the department from responsibility, and these were agreed to by the plaintiff when consigning the bird

Decision was reserved.

[Revenuer]

As the archives will now be staying put. Any Tasmania viewers up for a visit to archives to sort this out once and for all?

Dave

[bill]

In Tinsley's book, Chapter XII, page 118, it is stated that a
1d parcels stamp was issued for return of an empty pigeon
cage, according to the late A M Leitch.

This still does not explain why a 1d parcels ticket was issued
in 1903. The TGR rate schedule (in another post but still in
this Section) does not provide a 1d rate.