AIR MAILS

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 145, 22 June 1938, Page 13

AIR MAILS

TASMAN SERVICE

THE LONDON CONFERENCE

(Received June 22, 9.45 a.m.) LONDON, June 21. The Australian Attorney-General, Mr. R. G. Menzies, stated that the Australian delegation in London is unaware that a meeting of representatives of Britain, Australia, and New Zealand was contemplated. in London in connection with the trans-Tasman airmail service, as reported by the New Zealand Prime Minister. Mr. Menzies. added that he understands that the completion of details for the service is being carried out at Canberra and at Wellington, in consultation with London. Commenting upon the above message, the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage) said that his reference to the London conference ( arose from a cablegram from the Prime Minister of Australia (the Rt. Hon. J. A. Lyons) strongly urging the New Zealand Government to accept certain proposals made by the United Kingdom Government, and to agree to a conference in London of the Government representatives concerned. Mr. Savage said that he had. sent a reply that the New Zealand Government agreed -with the proposals, that the United Kingdom Government would be informed to that effect, and that the High Commissioner had been instructed to represent New Zealand at the proposed conference in London. [ A report from Canberra that the trans-Tasman air*mail service" would probably commence just before Christmas or early in the New Year was confirmed by Mr. Savage. "I would say it will not be later than that," Mr. Savage added.

"ALL-UP" SYSTEM

AN INCREASED EXPENSE

. Various aspects, of the proposed "all up" air-mail scheme, under which all first-class. postal matter will be carried by air. were considered at the meeting of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce last evening, and, in view of the fact that details of the scheme are to be announced shortly by the Postmaster-General (the Hon. F. Jones), it was decided to refer the matter to a committee.

The point was made by Mr. S. CoryWright that the public was only just realising that there.; was to be. a departure from .the penny postage which had ('operated Jn New Zealand, with. ohe or two interruptions, jor thirtyeight years. The "all up" system would initially treble the cost of sending letters to England, and that would be a handicap to those whose business necessitated a great deal of correspondence with English principals. The move was a forward one in some respects but a baokward one in others. Mr. A. L. Wall said that a hardship might arise in the case of domestic correspondence, which hitherto had been forwarded for a penny. "This is one step in the march of progress," : said Captain S. Holm. "There was a time when people .would not send letters by steamer, thinking that sailing vessels were safer." They would certainly have tq pay a little more for postage, but there would be great advantages. Probably it would not be; long before the penny postage was restored. 1 " ' ..