MAILS FROM MIDDLE EAST

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 24075, 11 October 1943, Page 4

MAILS FROM MIDDLE EAST

♦ REASON FOR IRREGULARITY (P.A.) WELLINGTON, October 10. The Postmaster-General (the Hon. P. C. Webb) said yesterday that he agreed that the position concerning tHe receipt of mails from the Middle East was not altogether satisfactory. It was entirely dependent upon the availability of. shipping to bring mails to New Zealand.

Mails are exchanged between the Middle East and New Zealand by every available ship. Thirty-four mails have been received this year, the average interval between their receipt being under nine days. The majority of these have been letter mails, the only complete dispatches of mails comprising parcels and packets as well as letters averaging about one a month. Although the average interval between the receipt of mails is not long, it is the case that occasionally a very long interval occurs. The longest interval was between August 23 and September 27. The only other long interval this year was between April 24 and May 21.

From the public viewpoint the position is accentuated occasionally by the fact that some vessels come to New Zealand direct, thus providing a moderately fast transit, while the following vessel may tranship its mails at some, point en route or be diverted, with the result that mails are delayed in reaching New Zealand. For instance, August postings came direct to New Zealand while July postings were transhinped en route. They have just reached New Zealand and delivery should take place early next week. The Minister said it would be impracticable to take mail by air from North Africa via the United States to New Zealand.