MAILS FIR SOLDIERS.

Taranaki Daily News, 31 October 1917, Page 2

MAILS FIR SOLDIERS.

PROMPT AND .REGULAR DELIVERY.

"Have newspapers published in Now Zealand and addressed to soldiers at the front any reasonable chance of reaching their destination?' asked Mr. R. A. Wright, M.P., in iParliament on Saturday. "It is now believed that these newspapers are destroyed in London or elsewhere and never delivered at all," added the hon, member. Sir James Allen said that lie could give an emphatic denial to that. The mails were delivered regularly right up to the front. Major Holdsworth (Director of (Postal Services, and an experienced chief postmaster) reported that the transport of mails was prompt and regular; the men were all doing good work, and the position generally was satisfactory. Recently one field post office had been completely wrecked by an enemy shell and one man was wounded, the others being on leave at the time. A shell also burst'through, the roof of another field post office; but, fortunately, did not explode, and nobody was hurt. During recent airship raids two Zeppelins flew over the base post office, London, and bombs were dropped, but no damage was done. 18 BAGS OF MAILS LOST. In June 18 bags of mail matter were lost at sea through enemy operation and 111 registered articles "and 65 par. eels were lost. The minimum number of letters dealt with per month was in Julj< last 'year; and <the maximum 680,000 in January, 1917. Of the minimum was 21,493 in August, 1916; and the maximum 70.609 in January. In July, 1916, the number of bags of letters and papers was 2891; and in January last 4958. In July, 1916, there were 21,000 re-directions; and in June, 1917, the number was 50,000. So that every care was taken in delivering the mails, and the men were receiving parcels, letters, and papers tight up to the front. The parcels fo» deceased and missing men, added the Minister, were opened and the contents distributed to the unite. There were 384 parcels so dealt with in June, 1910, and 6502 in February last.