PRISONERS OF WAR

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 43, 14 November 1941, Page 10

PRISONERS OF WAR

Introduction Of Airmail Letter-Card

DISPATCH FROM DOMINION

The introduction of a special lightweight airmail letter-card for couimuni eating with New Zealand and other British prisoners of war interned abroad was announced yesterday’ by the Postmaster-Generai, Air. Webb. The letter-card will be placed on sale at principal post offices on Monday, and the sale price (including postage) wut be 1/6. It is the light weight of the letter-card that has made possible this low rate of postage. . _ . “The letter-cards wili receive ai. transmission by .the transpacific an transatlantic air services , the whole journey from New to Lisbon, Portugal, and it is possibb. also that they will receive air I™’ l *’ mission by the special airmail seitice for prisoners of war operating m.tween Lisbon and Stuttgart, Germany, said Mr. Webb. "The transit timcould not be estimated wlth cel ’ t ‘ u "%' but with good connexions a let ei-caid should rfeach Germany in about thiec to four weeks after dispatch. “It is most important, added Air. Webb, "that the address should be accurately and-clearly shown specially in 1 writing to Germany, where the prison camps are numerous and then organization complicated. It is essential also that letters should be legibly written. Foreign censors naturally tint! difficulty in reading in a foreign language when the writing is not distinct, and they might delay and even withhold delivery of a letter-card which they found difficult to read. r lo facilitate censorship the letter-card is closed by folding instead of sealing. Communications for prisoners of war, which should contain only news of personal interest, should be posted well before the day of closing of the airmail.” , . .. The Minister said that the airmail letter-card service would be an additional one. The existing facilities fot sending a letter by surface means postage free or by airmail at the usual postage rates would be continued.