CHRISTMAS GREETINGS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 64, Issue 34, 19 November 1943, Page 3

CHRISTMAS GREETINGS

CABLEGRAMS TO SOLDIERS. WELLINGTON, November 18. The Postmaster-General (the Hon. P. C. Webb) announced to-day that all cheap-rate Christmas greetings’ telegrams to members of the forces overseas must be lodged before December 5 in order to ensure delivery before Christmas. The Minister, explained that during the period December G to December 25 inclusive, the cheap-rate cablegram service to members of the armed forces overseas Avould be subject to the folloAA 7 - ing alterations:

(a) To all places other -than the Middle East, South Pacific Islands, and the United States of America, the service to be suspended. (b) To the Middle East, the service to be continued, except that messages containing seasonal greetings Avill not be accepted.

(c) To the south Pacific islands, the full service to be continued. (d) To the United States of America, the service to be restricted to six special seasonal greetings texts.

The Minister explained that 6A r en with the reduction that Avould be brought about by the restrictive measures, no guarantee coiild be given that messages for the Middle East lodged after December 5 AA'ould be delivered before Christmas. • In December, for communicating on non-urgent matters Avith the troops in the Middle East, the airgraph service should be used in preference to the telegraph. During the period of suspension of the soldiers’ clieap-rate service, the G.L.T. service Avill still be available. This extends to all parts of the Empire, but does not include Egypt.