EMPIRE AIR MAIL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23145, 17 September 1938, Page 19

EMPIRE AIR MAIL

SAVING OF 15 DAYS PENALTIES FOR UNDERPAYMENT In the first month of operation the Empire air mail service has demonstrated a saving of 15 days on correspondence between New Zealand and Great Britain. By the surface method mails between these two countries took on the average 30 days; by air the average is only 15 days. These figures are based on experience with 12 mails between August 4 and 24. English mails by air, including a transtasnian steamer crossing, have been reaching the Dominion in an average time of 16 days. In the period under review the general average was raised because it was necessary to use cargo steamers on several occasions, but that handicap will be reduced with the introduction of improved passenger services during the summer. So that New Zealandcrs should have the opportunity of becoming accustomed to the change in postal rates for all first-class matter to Empire countries, the postal authorities waived all penalties lor insufficiently prepaid correspondence for a period during the early stages of the new system. However, surcharging at the rate of double the deficiency is now in operation, and checks taken within the last lew days show that what the department calls "educative work" remains to be done by means of a penalty to bo collected by overseas offices. A check-of correspondence handled at th*>; Auckland Chief Post Office showed-that 25 per cent of the letters were underpaid either in respect of the l£d charge for Empire countries, or the 2Jd rate to the United States and other foreign destinations. A similar cheek at Wellington brought better results, the proportion being only 11 per cent.