NEW POSTAGE

Hokitika Guardian, 26 July 1938, Page 2

NEW POSTAGE

BY AIR TO ENGLAND.

(Per Press Assoc!“tlon —Copyrrgfit).

WELLINGTON, July 25.

Penny postage for overseas mails ceased to-day with the despatch by the Monterey from Auckland of approximately 100,000 letters for the United Kingdom, representing an accumulation of nearly a fortnight. The mail will reach London on August 18, a fast transit for surface routes, because it will secure quick connections owing to the operation of the summer time table of the Atlantic .

Over 100 years ago whaling ships offered the principal means of overseas mail communication. In 1854, however, a regular mail service via Australia and the Suez, although of course the canal was not then open. It was in 1866 that mails were first sent to Britain via the Isthmus of Panama, and in 1869 the route changed to via San Francisco. Thus, after seventy years, the mails from •New Zealand to the United Kingdom .now swing from the westward routes back to the east to secure the fastest despatch.

'l'lie. first despatch by the Empire air service with its postage of three half-pence for the half ounce, leaves Wellington on August 4th. and Auckland on the following day, to connect with the air service at Sydney on August 9th.

This mail, leaving New Zealand eleven days later than the mail going ■ to-day by the . fastest service route in use, will reach London on exactly the same day. It illustrates one of the great advantages obtained by the slightly extra postage now prevailing; because the tirre saved will be usually nearly a fortnight. There will also be the advantage of a more frequent outlet for. New- Zealand letters to Enin ire countries, because every steamer leaving- for Australia will carry mails to connect with the thrice week!” departures of the Empire air service from Sydney. Every week approximately 76,000 letters are posted in New'Zealand for Great Britain and Emoire countries, which are served bv the Empire air route, and these will be delivered almost thirteen days from the time of despatch from New Zealand, and when the Tasman is crossed by the mail planes, the load will increase to approximately 160,000 letters each week, owing to the large volume of postal business between the Dominion and the Commonwealth.