AIR MAIL SERVICES

Evening Star, Issue 21878, 15 November 1934, Page 9

AIR MAIL SERVICES

BRITISH POST OFFICE PLANS IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENTS ‘ (British Official Wireless.) Press Association —By Telegraph—Copjrigh;. RUGBY, November 14. (Received November 15, at noon.) Important developments in air mail traffic were revealed in an interview with the Postmaster-General (Sir Kingsley Wood). They include, firstly, a reduction of charges and the introduction of a flat rate for Imperial air mail traffic; and, secondly, the despatch of all fully-paid letters and post cards to internal addresses by any internal air mail which can operate regularly and punctually and whose owners will enter into an agreement with the Post Office to carry mails at a reasonable cost, thereby delivery will bo materially accelerated.

In regard to Imperial air mail traffic Sir Kingsley Wood said this was the first instalment of plans which were under consideration, and involved a marked step forward and a real advance in Empire co-operation. As from November 17 all varying postage charges to Empire destinations reached by existing services of Imperial airways would accordingly be abolished and flat rates substituted. The new charges would be 6d per naif-ounce for letters to all destinations where the present charge was equal to or in excess of that amount, and 3d per halfounce where it at present was lower than 6d. This means that to India, Malaya, Kenya, Uganda, Tanganyika, Nyassaland, Zanzibar, Northern and Southern Rhodesia, and South Africa the charge will be 6d, and to Sudan, Palestine, Tnansjordiania 3d. The latter rate will also apply exceptionally to Egypt, Syria, Iraq, and Persia. Regarding internal air mail ; it in future would be the responsibility of the Post Office to decide when letters would benefit by air transmission. The new internal service commences on December 1.

Sir Kingsley Wood expressed the hope that final development of the policy would chiefly result in the establishment of a network of internal air services operating all the year round to benefit not only the posting public, but British civil aviation.