Air Mail—By Train

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31987, 14 May 1969, Page 16

Air Mail—By Train

Sir,—On the television programme “The Invisible Men” broadcast recently, I noticed an air mail letter amongst those being sorted—on the train! Perhaps there is an explanation? How much and how often is air mail sent by surface transport?—Yours, etc., JAVY-U.U. May 2, 1969. [The Chief Postmaster, Wellington (Mr M. E. Wilson), replies: “Mail from offices which do not dispatch direct air mails (e.g., Levin or Feilding) is carried by train or vehicle to the nearest air centre. From there it is dispatched normally by air, but otherwise by the speediest surface means, which could be by the railway travelling post office.”] [The Chief Postmaster, Auckland (Mr A. C. Jones), replies: “All mail is dispatched by the quickest means consistent with the postage paid. This means that if a letter posted at airmail rates of postage would reach its destination quicker by surface means than the next air dispatch, the letter would be forwarded by road or rail. Again, should a letter be posted at an inland town not served by airlines for onward, transit by air, it could be dispatched to a main centre by rail. Also, redirected mail is always sent by surface means unless further airmail postage is affixed. It is not known at this office to what letter your correspondent refers but we would expect it would fall into one of the categories referred to.”]