ABYSSINIA TO ABERDEEN 3d

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 4, Issue 158, 22 September 1941, Page 6

ABYSSINIA TO ABERDEEN 3d

BRITAIN'S AIRGRAPH WONDER

In April Britain's Postmaster General inaugurated the Airgraph service from the fighting forces in. the Middle East to England. It was the first postal service of its kind in the World. By mid-June more than 250,000 letters had been transmitted by Airgraph, and the average time of transmission was nine days only. Letters are written on special forms taking from 150 to 200 words. They are photographed in miniature, enlarged on arrival, and sent through the ordinary post.

Before; this service was introduced these letters from soldiers, airmen and sailors in the Middle East were taJking three or more months to get home. In a few weeks, when the tons of essential machinery l iave been shipped and delivered in the Middle East, mothers, wives and sweethearts of the lighting forces will be enabled to transmit letters to their men in the field with the fame astonishing rapidity. A.s surprising as this technical achievement by a nation engaged in a Avar on many fronts is the l'act that the cost of the service connpares favourably with ordinary postal charges. I.t costs to send a letter from one side of London to the other : it costs 3d to send an Airgraph letter from the heart of the African <!(•<■•• •••I to Aberdeen.