Overseas Mails

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 175, 27 July 1938, Page 7

Overseas Mails

PENNY POSTAGE CEASES TO-DAY. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, July 25. Penny postage for overseas mails ceases 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 18th, by a fast transit for surface routes, because it will secure quick connections owing to the operation of the summer time-table on the Atlantic. Over 100 years ago whaling ships offered the j>rincipal means of overseas mail communication. In 1854, however, a regualr mail service came into operation via Australia and Suez, although of course the Suez Canal was not then open. It was in 1866 that mails were first sent to Britain via the Isthmus of Panama, and in 1869 tho route changed co via San Francisco. Thus, after seventy years, tlio mails from New Zealand to tho United Kingdom now swing from tho westward routes back to the east. To securo tho fastest despatch, the first despatch by tho Empire air service with its postage of 1%& 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 surface route in use will reach London on exactly the same day. It illustrates one of the great advantages obtained by tho sightly extra postage now prevailing, because the time saved will be, usually, nearly a fortnight. There will also be the advantage of a more frequent outlet for New Zealand letters to Empire countries, because every steamer leaving for Australia will carry mails to connect with the thrice-weekly departures of the Empire air services from Sydney, Every week approximately 76,000 letters are posted in New Zoaland for Great Britain and Empire countries which are served by the Empire air route, and these will be delivered in about 13 days from the time of despatch from New Zealand. 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.