TASMAN AIR MAILS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23123, 23 August 1938, Page 10

TASMAN AIR MAILS

SURCHARGE FROM SYDNEY SAME AS TO BRITAIN SYDNEY, August 22 The Minister in charge of Aviation, Mr H. V. Thorby, stated to-day that when the Tasman air mail service is established tho surcharge on letters sent to New Zealand will bo the same as that on letters sent to England by air mail. Tho postage rate for air mail letters from Sydney to England was reduced recently from Is 6d to 5d a half ounce, including surcharge. The rate from Sydney to New Zealand by tho Tasman air lino is also to be 5d a half ounce, according to the cablegram, against ljd from New Zealand to Australia and England. Mr. Thorby was asked in Sydney last week whether ho did not think tho poundage of mail sent by flying-boat from Australia compared with that from New Zealand pointed to the desirability of removing the surcharge and sending all Australian mail to Britain at a flat rate of 2d. In reply Mr. Thorby said that Now Zealand's position was not comparable with that of Australia because the New Zealand Government was not faced with the necessity for maintaining expensivo internal services. Australia could not afford to carry internal mails by air at a flat, rate of 2d and it would bo impossible to rcmovo tho surehargo on mails carried by air to Britain and maintain it within the Commonwealth.