MAILS FOR ENGLAND

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23879, 1 February 1941, Page 8

MAILS FOR ENGLAND

THREE MODES OF DESPATCH POSTAGE AND TIME TAKEN [by telegraph own correspondent] WELLINGTON, Friday With a view to clarifying the position regarding the despatch of mails to the 'United Kingdom, the Post Office advises that there are at present three methods of despatch—by surface means, by the Empire air mail route, and by the Pan American air service. B.v surface means the average transit time is at present 50 days and the rates of postage are 2d for the first half-ounce and Id for each additional half-ounce. Letters prepaid at the rate of Is Gd each half-ounce (9d each halfounce if addressed to members of the fighting forces) are despatched by air to Capetown and thence by surface means to England, this being the only Empire air mail route now available. According to recent information received from London, the average transit time is 45 days. The quickest despatch is by the Pan American air service .(New Zealand. United States, Lisbon). Letters sent by this means normally reach England within 10 to 12 days. The postage rate is high. 5s Od for each half-ounce. The transit times mentioned do not include the time taken under present conditions in delivery after receipt in Great Britain and allowance should also be made for the interval between posting and mail despatch from New Zealand.