Free Postage For Troops Overseas

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 303, 23 December 1939, Page 7

Free Postage For Troops Overseas

Special Rates for Mails From Dominion NEED FOR CORRECT ADDRESSES TO BE GIVEN Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Dec. 22. The Postmaster-General, Hon. F. Jones, announced to-day that parcels up to a maximum of seven pounds 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 31bs., Is 6d; parcels not more than Tibs., 3s. The Minister said he appreciated the importance to men on active service overseas of parcels posted from home and he was hopeful, following approaches that had recently been made to a number of countries concerned overseas, that it would be possible later to announce a further reduction in the charges. The newspaper rate for New Zealand and other British soldiers, sailors and airmen on active service is tho Empire newspaper rate of id for each three ounces. The Minister explained that, in deciding on this rate and in nxing the parcel post maximum weight at seven pounds, it was necessary to have regard to the possible growth in the volume of parcel and newspaper mails for men on active service and to the need for conserving shipping space. During the last war, he said, difficulty arose in finding space on ships for all New Zealand Expeditionary Force mails, and it was necessary then to fix a parcel post maximum at seven pounds and to place serious restrictions on the posting of newspapers. As a way of helping .me Post Office to overcome this difficulty he suggested the use of newspapers ror packing parcels, which in all cases should be very carefully made up to withstand the long journey overseas in bags. (Senders were recommended to enclose in every parcel a slip indicating the name and address of the addressee and me name and address of the sender a» *n insurance against the possibility of the outside label or address of the parcel becoming lost in transit.

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, but members of the Expeditionary Force, once they left New Zealand, and members of the Air Force to undergo training in Canada would be granted free letter postage on leaving New Zealand. The Minister regretted that it was not possible to effect any reduction in the Empire air-mail surcharge of Is 6d for each half ounce. This had received careful consideration but no reduction was practicable in view of the need for restricting the weight of air mails to the capacity of the curtailed 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, Now Zealand Expeditionary Force, C/o. General Post Office, Wellington. ’ *