AIRGRAPH SERVICE

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVIII, Issue 23260, 23 July 1945, Page 4

AIRGRAPH SERVICE

Cessation Next Week (N.Z.P.A.) WELLINGTON. July 21. The airgraph service is to close down, the last date fixed lor acceptance being July 31. the Acting-Postmaster-General (the Hon. F. <- .tmAiinoorl tn-rlnv A’J'JH'nnhs

Jones) announced to-day. Airgrapns handed in or before that date will be dealt with in the normal way. The Minister explained that the decision to close down the service had ‘ been made by the participating' countries aftc r considering the volume of ahgraph traffic at present handled and also the availability of alternative means of communication with overseas countries. As far as New Zealand was concerned only about 3000 outward airgraphs were now dispatched weekly, and about the same number were received. There had, in fact, been a steady decline in airgraph traffic ever since the air lettercard service came into operation in June, 1944. The needs of users of the overseas post were now well catered for by the light-weight air lettercard which was available for communicating' with the New Zealand and other Empire forces overseas as well as with civilians in all countries served by airgraph except civilians in Canada and Newfoundland. • Lettercards Quicker In the circumstances there was scarcely any need for continuing the airgraph service and he urged persons who had been in the habit of sending ' airgraphs io use the air lettercard in future. The lettercard was, if anything, slightly quicker in transmission. It was possible that the air letter- ’ card service would soon be available for communicating with civilians in 1 Canada and Newfoundland also. Many letters received from the ■ public' testified to Hie excellence of ■ the airgraph service, which, as far as the New Zealand station was conL cerned handled 3,750,000 outward and t 4,300.000 inward messages, added the 1 Minister, who paid a tribute to the t service rendered by Kodak (New Zea- - land), Ltd., which carried out the J photographic work for the Post Office.