Mail Service

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 14 January 1936, Page 3

Mail Service

NO ARRANGEMENTS FOR AIR CARRIAGE MATTER UNDER CONSIDERATION No arrangements have yet been mado for the provision of a mail service between the North and South Islands by Union Airways aeroplanes which start operations from Palmerston North on Wednesday. The Postmaster-General (the Hon. F. Jones) when asked by a “Post” reporter yosterdav whether opportunity would be taken by the Govern' ment to provide a mail service by Union Airways' aeroplanes replied that no decision had yet been arrived at. lie indicated, however, that tho matter would receive tho attention of the Government.

The fact that no mail matter is to be carried by tlie aeroplanes lias caused comment in Christchurch business circles.

“The disadvantages of the South Island, compared with the North island, in overseas mail services, have often been pointed out in Christchurch,” states the “Press.” “It is possible, for replies to English mail to be sent from Auckland or Wellington within two days of arrival of the letters, tlie trans-Paeific shipping being linked with the service via Australia. Business men in tlie South' Island are denied this advantage, having to wait a fortnight for tlie next... mail. Air mail from England, on which heavy charges have been paid, arriving ac Auckland on a Saturday, is not delivered hero until Tuesday; mail arriving on a Monday is delivered on Wednesday. A largo amount of unnecessary delay would clearly be obviated if mail wore carried by the Union Airways’ machines. When internal air services became regular in England approximately two years ago, the British Post and Telegraph Department took immediate advantage of tlie faster transport, a new Department being opened to handle air mail and an aviation expert appointed.” THE BOARD’S REASONS In view of the fact that no mails—at present, at least—will be carried by the now service, it is interesting to recall the reasons which, actuated tlie Transport Co-ordination Board in granting a licence for a trunk air service to Union -Airways (tlie Union Steam Ship Company). Tlie decision of the board, published on 11th April, 1935, states, inter alia: “We must refer to the question of tlie carriage of mails. The view of tiie Post Office is that the service intended to be provided between Palmerston North-Cliristchurch-Dunedin by the Union Steam Ship Company is the only one that interests them. The Post Office maintains that letters are usually written during the day, and posted at the end of business hours in the afternoon. For such letters, the existing mail service between Auckland and Wellington and between Wellington and Christchurch is all that can be desired; because the letters between these places are posted in tlie evening and arrive at their destination by the following morning. Letters posted ill Auckland for the South Island, or those from tlie South Island for Auckland, will reach their destination quicker l>v air between Palmerston North and Christchurch, and transhipment to or from tlie train at Palmerston North, than by keeping tho letters overnight at Auckland or Christchurch as tlie case may be, and then taking them the whole distance by air. A simple analysis of the times of arrival and departure will demonstrate the soundness of’ this* conclusion. As to passengers, ’ however, quite different considerations apply, and if a passenger desires to make bis journey as quickly as possible, his transit will be much more rapid by air, and the long distance flight is therefore preferable. All the evidence at our disposal agrees that night-flying is still not possible in New Zealand with any safety. While still discussing tlie question of mails, we ought to note the possible future importance of New Plymouth as a mail centre, if it becomes the landing point of a trans-Tasman servico ... PRIMARILY TO BE A MAIL SERVICE “ . . . Wo feel, however, that tlie Union Steam Ship Company’s proposal, in its initial stages, is not quite sufficient, because except by feeder services, it is out of direct touch with half the population of tlie country and particularly the two largest centres. Its aim is primarily to be a mail service, and many difficulties are . involved in its future extension. The main service must be one that can fly from Auckland' as far south as possible. Treated as a servico only from Palmerston North to Christchurch or Dunedin, the Union Steam Ship Company’s proposal is a valuable one, and we see no objection to a."licence being issued to it for this particular route—in addition to the main licence which must go elsewhere—and thus both passengers and mails will be adequately provided for.”