MAIL FOR TROOPS

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20995, 23 December 1939, Page 8

MAIL FOR TROOPS

POSTAL RATES MAXIMUM FOR PARCELS (By Telegraph.—Press Assoclailo:*) WELLINGTON, Friday The Postmaster-General, the Hon. F. Jones, announced to-day that parcels up to a maximum of 71b would be accepted at the following standard rates for New Zealand and other British soldiers, sailors and airmen on active service in any country overseas: Parcels, not more than 31b, Is 6d; parcels, not more than 71b., 3s. The Minister said he appreciated the importance to men on active service overseas of parcels posted from home, and he was hopeful that, following approaches that had recently been made to a number of countries concerned overseas, it would be possible later to announce a further reduction in charges. Newspaper Rates The newspaper rate for New Zealand and other British soldiers, sailors and airmen on active service is the Empire newspaper rate of a halfpenny for each three ounces. The Minister explained that, in deciding on this rate and in fixing the parcel post maximum weight at 71b., it Was necessary to have regard to the possible growth in volume of parcel and newspaper mails for men on active service and to the need for conserving shipping space. During the last war, Mr Jones said, difficulty arose in finding space on ships for all New Zealand Expeditionary Force mails and it was necessary then to fix the parcel post maximum at 71b. and to place serious restrictions on the posting of newspapers. As a way of helping the Post Office to overcome this difficulty he suggested the use of newspapers for packing parcels, which in all cases should be very carefully made up to withstand a long journey overseas in bags. Senders were recommended to enclose in every parcel a slip indicating the name and address of the addressee and the name and address of the sender, as an insurance against the possibility of the outside label or address of the parcel becoming lost in transit. Sample Address The letter rate for people writing to soldiers from New Zealand was to { be the New Zealand inland letter rate ! of postage, Mr Jones continued, bui ' members of the Expeditionary Force, | and members of the Air Force to I undergo training in Canada, would j be granted free letter postage on leav- : mg New Zealand. , The Minister regretted that it was not possible to effect any reduction in | the Empire air mail surcharge of '6d for each half-ounce. This had re--1 ceived careful attention but no redu : • tion was practicable in view of the : need for restricting the weight of air mails to the capacity of the curtailej service now operating. Finally, the Minister asked for the co-operation of all members of the public in correctly addressing correspondence for soldiers overseas. As an example of correct addressing he quoted: “No. 3912. Corporal B. Smith. A. Company, Wellington Rifle Battalion. Advance Party, New Zealand Expeditionary Force, c/o General ' Post Office, Wellington."