AIR MAIL SERVICE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 June 1941, Page 4

AIR MAIL SERVICE

FROM THE MIDDLE EAST. REDUCED RATE FOR TROOPS. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. An announcement that arrangements were in train for the introduction at a reduced postage rate of 3d of an airmail letter-card system for use by New Zealand soldiers in the Middle East in corresponding with New Zealand was made yesterday by the Acting-Prime Minister, Mr Nash. He said that in taking steps to inaugurate the service the Government recognised that the present minimum charge of 9d for an air mail letter was high for men overseas who desired to correspond frequently and quickly with their next-of-kin in New Zealand, and it was with this difficulty in view that the decision was made to introduce the 3d lettercard service.

"The letter-card will be of lightweight paper, as otherwise difficulty would be experienced in carrying from the Middle East to New Zealand the volume of air mail offering," said Mr Nash. “Because there is a limit to the volume of air mail that can be flown from the Middle East to Australia and New Zealand it might be necessary later to place some restriction on the number of 3d letter-cards that can bo posted each week by the soldiers, but every effort will be made to avoid any restriction.

“The letter-cards will bo supplied to the troops free as soon as supplies are available. Postage will require, to be prepaid in New Zealand stamps, of which supplies were made available some time ago to the New Zealand Army Base Post Office in the Middle East."