OVERSEAS MAILS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 168, 15 June 1940, Page 9

OVERSEAS MAILS

TRANSPORT DIFFICULTIES. PRESENT FACILITIES. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, June 14. Commenting in an interview- to-day on the position following the suspension of the Egypt-England seotion of the Empire air-mail service, the Post-master-General. (Hon. P. C. Webb) said it would be necessary to rely mainly on sea routes for the despatch of all letters mails to Great Britain. Some members of the public were apparently of the opinion that letters for Great Britain prepaid at the air-mail rate of Is 6d per half-ounce would be flown from New Zealand to Egypt and thence sent on to England by‘sea, but this service could not be offered at present due to the extension of hostilities to the Mediterranean and the probability that sea mails -for England from Egypt would be sent via the Cape of Good Hope.

There were only two alternatives to the forwarding of the English letter mail by sea and these, involving high air charges, were not very satisfactory. The first alternative was despatch from New Zealand to Honolulu by sea and thence by air to and across the United States and the Atlantic to Lisbon (4s per half-ounce). The second was by air from New Zealand to Hong Kong via Australia* and -from Ilong Kong across the Pacific, United States and the Atlantic to Lisbon (8s per halfounce). Under existing conditions it was difficult to estimate the transit times, especially as it was not definitely known whether the air connection was operating between Lisbon and England, but the time from New Zealand to England by each of the routes mentioned should be under three weeks. Another alternative which might suit on occasions was New Zealand to Honolulu by sea, Honolulu-New York by air and New York-Great Britain, by sea. The charge for despatch by this route was Is 9d per half-ounce. Under existing conditions the transit time might be a little in excess of three weeks. If the Pan-American trans-Pat*ific service

to New Zealand commenced operation, Mr Webb added, there would, of course, be little, if any, advantage in using any of the alternative air services mentioned. The Minister said his attention had been drawn to a statement emanating from Australia that it was proposed to replace the suspended flying-boat service. It was true, Mr Webb, said, there was such a proposal, but the public should await definite advice before resuming postings at the Is 6d rate to England. The idea was to institute a land ’plane service over a route through Africa, but under present conditions some time might elapse before the necessary arrangements were ' made. The public could rely on 1 the Post Office to <ifvie timely notification of any possibility of resuming Empire air -connection all the way to . Great Britain. !