Why did Rowland Hill propose that postage be paid before a letter was delivered?

Sir Rowland Hill proposed that postage be prepaid primarily to improve the efficiency and financial reliability of the postal system.12

Before his reforms, the prevailing system required postage to be collected from the recipient upon delivery. This created several significant issues that Hill sought to resolve:3

• Revenue Loss: Because many recipients refused to pay for letters upon delivery, the post office was often forced to return the mail, resulting in a two-way trip that generated no revenue.3
• Operational Inefficiency: Collecting payments at the door was an avoidable, time-consuming process that added unnecessary complexity to postal operations.2
• Administrative Burden: The existing system relied on intricate, distance-based charging scales that required a large staff of clerks to calculate and manage complicated interoffice accounts.2

By mandating prepayment—facilitated by the invention of the postage stamp—Hill simplified postal organization, reduced administrative costs, and ensured that the service was paid for regardless of whether a recipient chose to accept the letter.123