CHRISTMAS GREETINGS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 87, Issue 274, 19 November 1943, Page 4

CHRISTMAS GREETINGS

MEMBERS OF THE FORCES (P.A.) Wellington, Nov. 18. The Postmaster-General, the Hon. P. C. Webb, announced to-day that all cheap-rate Christmas greetings telegrams to members of the forces overseas must be lodged before December 5 in order to ensure delivery before Christmas.

The Minister went on to explain that during the period December 6 to 25 inclusive, the cheap-rate cablegram service to members of the armed forces would be subject to the following alterations: (a) To all places than the Middle East, South 1 Islands, and the United States of America, service to be suspended; (b) To the Middle East, service to be continued except that messages containing seasonal greetings will not be accepted; (c) To the; South Pacific Islands, full service to be continued; (d) To the United States of America, service to be restricted to six special seasonal greetings texts.

The Minister explained that even with the reduction that would be brought about by the restrictivemeasures, no guarantee could be given that messages for the Middle East lodged after December 5 would be delivered before Christmas.

In December, for communicating on non-urgent matters with the troops in the Middle East the airgraph service should be used in preference to the telegraph. During the period of suspension of the soldiers’ cheaprate service the G.L.T. service will, still be available. This extends to all parts of the Empire but does not include Egypt.