MESSAGES TO TROOPS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24630, 11 June 1941, Page 4

MESSAGES TO TROOPS

STANDARD TEXT ADOPTED NEW CONCESSION SYSTEM (P.A.) WELLINGTON, June 10. The Acting Prime Minister,. Mr W. Nash, announced to-day that, in collaboration with'Cable and • Wireless, Ltd., arrangements had been made for improving the present consession rate of cablegam service for members of the army, air force, and navy overseas by the introduction of a "standard text" concession rate, the scheme to be operative from Monday next. • The new scheme will apply to .all parts of the Empire and Egypt. There will be a large number of texts to choose from, covering such subjects as correspondence, greetings, health, proiriotion. etc., and the list of standard texts will be displayed at all post offices.

The present charge for a concession rate message is 2s 6d for six words, including the signature, no charge being made for the address. Under the new method up to three of the standard texts may be included in any one cablegram. Consequently, longer and more informative messages will be possible without increased charge. Messages other than official texts may be sent, but must be paid for at ordinary commercial rates. ... . '; • THE DATE OF DESPATCH : INCLUSION DESIRABLE (Special WELLINGTON, June 10. The desirability of the date of despatch being included in cablegrams to next-of-kin .from soldier sons and husbands overseas.was emphasised in an urgent question* asked by Mr J. A. Lee (Democratic Labour, Grey Lynn), on behalf of Mr W. E. Barnard (Democratic Labour. Napier), of the Acting Prime. Minister. Mr W. Nash, in the House of Representatives this afternoon. Mr Lee said that the inclusion of the date would dispel much -anxiety. . :,.:'i r; . Mr Nash said that representations had already been made to the cable and army authorities overseas. In the last few days some cablegrams had been received with the date •: of despatch included, and apparently the Governments requests had been given favourable consideration.