THE SOLDIERS' MAIL

Nelson Evening Mail, 31 July 1916, Page 2

THE SOLDIERS' MAIL

CORRESPONDENCE RETURNED.

A consideration quantity of oorrespondCorrespondence of New Zealand sol diers. Notwithstanding the special arrangements made to effect delivery, such correspondence, owing- to the exigencies of the military service, and frequent movements of individual soldiers, is more liable than ordinary correspondence to fail in reaching the addressees. To ensure return of articles undelivered, it is of the utmost impo-t----ance that correspondents of soldiers should address them by their full military description, and also place their own names and addresses in full on the covers or inside all letters and other postal packets. Correspondence of New Zealand . 01diers, if undelivered from any cause, is sent to this Dominion for disposal, and owing to its bulk a special Army Cor lesponclence Branch of the Dead Lettov Office has been established to deal wi-'.n it. The following particulars are furnished by the Postmaster-General of the large volume of articles handled in this branch for the first six months of this year :

The number of unclaimed soldiers' letters and other articles, excluding parcels, returned to the senders was 67.015. and to postal administrations of other countries for return, b.y them 3927 : articles redirected to the addressees, 9192: articles for soldiers, excluding parcels dealt with, 82,546:' 1584 cards relating to the disposal of parcels wc.*e received from the New Zealand Base Army Post Office in Egypt, and tl ■* senders or. when possible, the addressees advised'; 209 registered articles were dealt with. 48 of which it was possib'e to redirect to the addressees. About 3000 orders for the redirection of correspondence were recorded. Few newspapers are returned to the Dominion. Those which are returned and. which cannot be redirected or returned to the senders are. if of sufficient interest, sent to R-einfoi-eement Canins. For the period 29th May to 30th June 1188 parcels were also handled in- this special branch of the Dead Letter Office Action was taken in the case of 1086 of these to redirect to the soldiers or to return to the senders. The remaining 102 could not. for various reasons, be returned ; 60 of them were without addrosses —a result of the conditions of transport, etc.