BIGGER VOLUME OF AIR MAIL

Southland Times, Issue 23681, 2 December 1938, Page 8

BIGGER VOLUME OF AIR MAIL

SERVICES OPERATING IN NEW ZEALAND

HEAVIER POSTINGS FOR OVERSEAS (United Press Association) WELLINGTON, December 1. The volume of air mail carried by commercial aeroplanes operating on the New Zealand services continues to show a steady increase and during November a new record was established for inland air mails in the Dominion. Between November 14 and November 20 postings exceeded 50,001 letters, the highest total recorded for one week since the inception of regular air mail services in New Zealand. In March 1936, when the Union Airways Palmerston North-Blenheim-Christchurch-Dunedin service was inaugurated only 12,000 letters were carried by air. The average number of air mail letters posted before November 14, 1938, was about 46,000 each week, though during the week ended November 6, 1938, postings were slightly m excess of 49,000. The outward English air mail posted under the “all-up” scheme for transit by air between Sydney and London is also increasing in quantity. When the Awatea left Auckland on Wednesday she carried the largest English air mail yet posted in New Zealand, the total weight of the consignment being 41391 b. The mail is due at London on December 19 in ample time for full distribution in the United Kingdom before Christmas. “The fact that the Awatea’s mail was so heavy indicates that people are posting early this Christmas,” said a postal official today. November was a record month tor outward English air mail and a total of 14,8871 b of first-class matter left New Zealand during that period. In October 71311 b of English air mail was despatched from the Dominion. For the previous month the postings totalled 84481 b and in August, the first month of the “all-up” scheme, 94121 b of air mail left New Zealand.