A FURTHER TRIAL

Southland Times, Issue 22916, 15 June 1936, Page 6

A FURTHER TRIAL

Poor Support For Experiment (From Our Parliamentary Reporter). Wellington, June 14. A further trial is to be given the inland air mail service which since its inception has proved disappointing to the authorities because of the poor support given, particularly by business people. The service began as an experiment for three months, which was to have expired to-morrow. “The question was considered by Cabinet yesterday,” said the Postmast-er-General, the Hon. F. Jones in an interview to-day, ‘and it has been decided to continue the service for an additional three months as from May 31, and it is hoped that the further trial will bring about more substantial support in the service.” The latest figures show that business has improved during the past month. During that period the weekly total of letters carried by air was over 13,000 with a marked tendency toward stability. However, even the best week’s return—l4,6oo letters weighing 5421b—was still far below the initial expectation of business; indeed when the experimental service was initiated it was calculated by experts that if all the letters which would be accelerated in delivery were sent by air, over 170,000 a week would be flown. Actually the aggregate for 12 weeks was 181,220. On several occasions during the first experimental period, the PostmasterGeneral expressed disappointment with the trial and there were broad hints that unless the business improved to a very substantial degree, it. would be discontinued. Apparently it will be for the community generally to respond in such a way as to secure permanent maintenance of the inland air mail.