AIRGRAPH MESSAGES

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 123, 19 February 1944, Page 6

AIRGRAPH MESSAGES

Popularity With Public At

Christinas “The special airgraph fofilis provided by the Post Office for conveying seasonal greetings to relatives and friends overseas proved very popular with the New Zealand public." said the PostmasterGeneral, Mr. Webb, yesterday. “For the three weeks ended December 4 last, during which period the bulk of the outward traffic was handled, 108,000 Christmas airgraphs were forwarded, compared with 80,000 ordinary messages. During the three weeks ended December 2,5, 84,000 Christmas messages were received, compared with 109,000 ordinary messages.” The Minister stated that returns compiled showed that • altogether 120,900 Christmas airgraphs were sent from New Zealand. Of this number, 87,000 were for members-of the armed forces (including Merchant Navy personnel) and 39,000 for civilians. In the inward direction,. 100,000 Christmas .airgraphs were received. 73,000 being from members of the armed forces and 27,000 troni civilians. The arrangements made between the various postal administrations provided for the delivery of these messages as near to Christmas as possible.

“The designs of the airgraphs received. from overseas covered a wide variety,” said Mr. Webb, “but all, conveyed the spirit- of the festive season. The design of the New Zealand form, depicting two well-known specimens of New Zealand flora—bush clematis and tree fern — compared very favourably with those of Other administrations, and, as the returns show, the opportunity of conveying Christmas and New Year greetings by means of the special form was widely availed of by the New Zealand public,”