AIR-MAIL SERVICE

Evening Post, Issue 17, 20 July 1936, Page 5

AIR-MAIL SERVICE

CLAIMS FOR FEEDERS

CONFERENCE IN THE SOUTH

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.)

INVERCARGILL, This Day.

Claims for the establishment; of a feeder air service between Invercargill and Mosgiel, and for a subsidy from the Government to maintain both .that and other feeder routes, were advanced at the annual conference today of the Southland members of Parliament and local bodies.

"While the air mail drive week was responsible for a satisfactory. increase in postings the proportion sent by air is not yet sufficient to justify an extension of the service to this centre, and it is doubtful whether it is possible to so. increase mail on the surchargedbasis as to warrant it being used as an argument in this direction," said Mr. D. J. Wesney in introducing the subject. "No. doubt the Post Office naturally tries to run the service without extra cost to itself by imposing the surcharge on mail, but it is not advancing with the times in doing so, nor is it taking into consideration the important factor of defence. Experience in other countries has proved beyond doubt that surcharged mail by air, even over an exceptionally long distance, has failed to provide an adequate return for the expense involved."

Mr. Adam Hamilton, M.P., said that the British Government had proposed the establishment of an Empire air service in 1937. letters to be delivered without surcharge. An internal air mail delivery service would prove somewhat costly in New Zealand, especially as a good train: service was already in existence. However, it was coming, he added. .