EMPIRE AIR MAIL

Hokitika Guardian, 12 January 1935, Page 6

EMPIRE AIR MAIL

SERVICE TO THE DOMINION

SOME SHORTCOMINGS APPARENT

Shortcomings in the newly-introduced’ Empire air mail service between England and Australia, particularly as regards flic time required for the mail to roach New Zealand, are already apparent, although so far only two deliveries have been made in the Hoininion. It has been explained by postal officials locally that the trouble is due to the air mail failing to connect with the weekly inter-colonial steamers at Sydney, with the result that delays are to ho expected. At present the mail roaches Sydney on Saturday mornings, missing the regular Friday steamers.

The third dispatch from England b.v the new service, including mail for tlio Luke of Gloucester, apparently reached Sydney last- Saturday morning, too late to connect with the Monowai, which sailed at 4 p.m. on Friday lor Wellington, where is due this afternoon. In consequence the mail will have to remain in Sydney until Wednesday, when it will he dispatched by the Mariposa- which is due at Auckland early next Saturday morning. Arrangements have been made for the Luke’s mail to be taken from Auckland to Invercargill by air. Advice received by the Post and Telegraph Hepartmeivt indicates that the fourth .England-Australia air mail is not likely to reach Australia in time to connect with the Monowai, which will leave Sydney on January 18 and arrive at Auckland on January 21. It is expected that the mail will -be brought to the Hoininion by the Mamma, which will leave Sydney on January 24 and arrive at Wellington on January 28.

Delays are to be expected in New •Zealand deliveries until faster machines are in use on the Singapore-Brisbane section of the route. With more rapid transport on this (section, the njsil should probably arrive in Sydney on Fridays, enabling the connection to lie made.

Local recipients of mail matter carried on the new service have also found in numerous instances that substantial amounts have had to be paid in surcharge, owing to the packets being short-stamped in' England. In assessing the surcharge, the amount of the deficiency is doubled, and this has resulted in some expensive mail being received in New Zealand. In Christchurch last week a surcharge of 4s 3d was paid on an item of mail that contained merely a card. In another instance, .the surcharge demanded was £1 2s fid, but the recipient refused to accept delivery, and the package will be returned to the senders, who will have to make up the fefieit. A postal official explained that the surcharge was fixed by the English authorities, and was not questioned in New Zealand.

Although initial difficulties have arisen, the authorities are planning already to reduce the charges to a fraction of those now ruling, and to provide more rapid transport. The possibility of United Kingdom letters for Empire destinationh being carried by an improved air service for a fee in the region of lid a half ounce instead of Is fid as at present, was mentioned in the House of Commons roeentlv bv the TJnder-Secretary of Air, Sir Phillip Sassoon. The British Postmaster-Cen-eial. Sir Kingsley Wood, intimated, however, that there was little possibility of this happening before 1957

It was mentioned that other participants in the scheme for an improved Empire air service would ho free to fix their own postal charges. Eor the benefit of those sending letters h v the servirp. Sir Phillip pointed out that with a special light paper at least eight sheets ol correspondence would come within the half-ounce limit.