Tasman Air Mail Regulations

Northern Advocate, 26 April 1940, Page 7

Tasman Air Mail Regulations

[Pc??- Press Association. CopyrightJ WELLINGTON, This Day. The Postmaster-General (Mr Jones), commenting on the announcement that the first flight of the Tasman air service from Auckland to Sydney will be made on Tuesday next, said that whenever a saving in delivery time could be effected mails received by air and also those connecting with the service outward would be conveyed in New Zealand by air, using the curtailed air services now in operation. From Auckland, the point of arrival, mail matter for southern points (except, at times, New Plymouth and districts) would be despatched *by the Limited express on the evening of arrival. Connecting Flights From Wellington, the South Island portion would be flown if there were an3' advantage, arriving in Christchurch at 1 p.m., Dunedin at 2.30 p.m., Blenheim at 4.30 p.m., Nelson at 12.30 p.m., and Hokitika at 4 p.m. Air mail for New Plymouth and district would be flown from Auckland when there was any advantage, arriving at 9.15 a.m. | In fixing the closing times for outward mails, it was necessary to allow a margin for censorship. The closing time at the four centres had, therefore, been fixed for midnight on Fridays, while the closing time at other places would be co-oi'dinated accordingly. Closing Times Mr Jones added that if it was found in practice that less time than allowed is required, it might be possible to fix later closing times, but, on the other hand, it may be nceessary to close mails earlier to ensure that all letters posted before the advertised closing time will make the connection. A great deal will depend on the extent to which the public, including the business public, assist by making early posting of correspondence. j Postage Kates Postage rates on correspondence posted in New Zealand for convey- j ance by the Tasman service will be as i follows:—Letters and other articles, except parcels, to Australia, 5d each half-ounce, and 1/6 to British countries served by Empire air services, ‘ also Egypt and Irak. Postcards (each half-ounce), 3d and 9d respectively. Where the destination is. foreign countries, served by Empire air services, the rate will be the existing charge plus the Tasman charge of 6d each half-ounce for letters and 3d for each postcard. These rates will cover conveyance by inland air service whenever used to ex- j pedite delivery and despatch. i I The Commonwealth Post Office has also decided, without requiring additional postage, to use air mail services fn Australia wherever they would provide quicker despatch of correspondence conveyed by the Tasman service. It would thus be possible, for example, for a half-ounce letter to be flown from Dunedin to Auckland; conveyed by the Tasman air service to Sydney, and then despatched by air to any of the State capitals, or even to Rabaul, in the territory of New Guinea, for the small amount of sd. I