LATE POSTING

Evening Post, Volume CXXIX, Issue 34, 9 February 1940, Page 8

LATE POSTING

RISK OF DELAY

EXERCISE OF CENSORSHIP

, The admission that persons would b« unwise to post letters Jby overseas mail immediately before the time, of closiing if they wanted to be certain.that these would make the desired conneo tion was made yesterday by a "Wellington officer of the Censorship Department of which Mr. G. . ;McNa« mara, until last year Postmaster-Gene-ral,, is the controller. The statement was made in the course of a telephone conversation with the '.'New Zealand Herald," when the , following., letter from a business man was read t© him: —

"Do I understand that, every-letter leaving New Zealand for England; i» censored? If so, what happens" to letters posted to catch an air mail? I strongly suspect that after paying-5s or 7s 6d for a letter, same is-held up for the following, air dispatch, thus rendering void the haste to catch an air mail, to say nothing of the expense. Can the authorities enlighten us?" ■ • '■•.: ; - ■

The officer who discussed the situation in the absence of Mr. McNamara said it was obvious that with a censorship in existence, letters intended* for any particular mail should be posted in sufficient time to permit of any censorship that might be. exercised.

When asked whether it was the practice to open all air-mail letters for examination as had been suggested, or whether any other system was followed, the officer indicated he, was not prepared to answer the questions in any way. There might be reasons why such matters should not be discussed. .