POSTAL UNION

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 140, 9 March 1929, Page 11

POSTAL UNION

TO MEET IN LONDON IN MAY SECRETARY OF DEPARTMENT TO ATTEND T. e International Postal Union is to coir mence its triennial congress in London on May 10. New Zealand will be represented on this as on other occasions by the Secretary of the Post, and Telegraph Department, now Mr. G. McNamara, who will leave Wellington on Monday to connect with the Aorangi at Auckland for Vancouver. It is Mr. McNamara’s intention to spend nearly a month in Canada and the United States inquiring into the latest advances in postal and telegraphic matters, chiefly from an administrative standpoint, and to ascertain as far as possible how New Zealand’s services measure up with those of the various States visited. The congress promises to be a very important one on account of the great changes that are so rapidly being brought about in the carriage of mails by aeroplane. and the vista that opens out in that respect by the airways service from England to India. If such a service—and its combination —is going to bring Australia within fifteen days of London, New Zealand must of necessity be vitally interested. The New Zealand representative’s chief concern at the congress will be' to keep a watchful eye on transit changes for the carriage of mails. This is a terminal country, and the great bulk of mail matter comes and goes via Canada, United States, and Australia, and the slightest increase in charges for handling our mails in these countries might very easily mean thousands a year on to transit costs. On the telegraphic side, too, there are matters of the greatest importance to be discussed, notably the advance of beam wireless and its infinite possibilities in the future as the means’ of rapid communication between countries as far apart as the poles. . The agenda of the conference consists of two inch-thick folio-size volumes that would provide solid reading for a week. Matters touched upon therein which m any way affect New Zealand have been considered by the responsible officers concerned, who have prepared memoranda for the secretary's information. Mr. McNamara expects to be away from New Zealand for seven months. He will return via the Suez Canal and Australia. During his absence Mr. J. Robertson, Assistant Secretary, will be ActingSecretary of the Department, Mr. M._ B. Esson, Second Assistant, will be ActingFirst Assistant Secretary, and Mr. W. J. Gow, Chief Postmaster at Auckland (who is already at headquarters), will be Acting-Second Assistant Secretary. The duties of Chief Postmaster at Auckland have been taken over by Mr. Gow’s second-in-command, Mr. J. J. Kearney.