AIR LETTER-CARDS

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 279, 22 August 1944, Page 4

AIR LETTER-CARDS

Improvement In Overseas Service CIVILIAN ADDRESSEES A further improvement in overseas airmail services was announced yesterday by the Postmaster-General, Mr. Webb, who said that as from Thursday next, special lightweight air lettereards may be used for communicating with civilians (including business firms) in the United Kingdom and many British countries overseas. In addition, there would in future be no restriction whatever on the use of these cards for communicating with the New Zealand Armed Forces serving abroad. - Mr. Webb said that during the Prune Minister’s recent visit to England he had discussed the matter of improved airrnai communication to and from New Zealand with the British authorities, who shared the Dominion representatives’ , serious concern at the unavoidable wartime linrtation of airmail facilities for civilian correspondence between British territories. Hitherto, however, it had not been possible to affect any improvement because of difficulty in providing sufficient aircraft space for mail, there being an over-riding need for aircraft for other purposes more closely connected with the war effort. The introduction of a civilian lightweight air letter-card service was the first important step toward the improve ment of overseas airmail services, which the British Commonwealth wished to bring about. Mr. Webb added that the civilian air letter-card service was available for com. municating with the United Kingdom and with British countries in Asia and Africa, including the Mediterranean area In addition, it was available for communi eating with civilians in Egypt and Iraq It could not. however, be used for civilint communications addressed to, foreign countries or to British countries in North and South America, though the matter of improving the service to those continents was being explored. The new air letter card service would, of course, operate from Great Britain to New Zealand also and to other British countries en route. Rate of Postage. ‘‘The air letter-card to be used for the service about to be introduced will be the same as that available for communications addressed to the forces and now sold at all New Zealand post offices- at « cost of id. each,” said the Minister “3 he n istao-e rate on ench civilian card wilbe Sd.. but the postage rate on cards addressed to the forces will remain sit 6d. No enclosure will be permitted in either civilian or forces cards, and the cards cannot he registered.” Hitherto the forces’ curd had been available primarily for communications from next-of-kin. said Mr. Webb. From now on. however, it could be used without restriction for communicating with members of the forces abroad. In the meantime. be particularly asked users whether "ommunicatinc. witli members of the forces or with civilians, not to purchase more cards than were necessary for their immediate requiremnts. This request was made because present stocks of the card.’ were not large, though it was hoped to have ample supplies available in the near future. . The airgraph service would be continued. hut from August 24 the charge for airgraphs addressed to civilians (including business houses) was being reduced to 5d., the same as the present charge for airgraphs addressed to the forces.