HC Deb 26 July 1937 vol 326 cc2654-5
36. Mr. G. Nicholson

asked the Postmaster-General whether he can give particulars of the weights of first-class mail carried to East and South Africa under the Empire air mail scheme; and whether the public are responding to his appeal to post their letters and postcards for this service daily throughout the week in order to facilitate the accommodation of the mail loads, as they offer, to the aircraft capacity available?

Major Tryon

Since the first stage of the Empire Air Mail Scheme was inaugurated on 29th June, about 5½ tons of United Kingdom first-class mails have been conveyed each week to East and South Africa. In response to my appeal to the public to post their letters for these services throughout the week, and not, as in the past, on Thursdays and Fridays only, there has been a perceptible transfer of postings to the week-end and early part of the week; but until a more extensive spreading out of postings, particularly in the case of South Africa, can be achieved, the risk remains that part of the letters posted may have to be excluded from the next available despatch.

Mr. Nicholson

Does my right hon. Friend intend giving wider publicity to his views on this question?

Major Tryon

We shall be very happy to do all we can to do that, because the matter is one of great importance.

Captain Heilgers

What percentage of the first-class mail does the 5½ tons represent?

Major Tryon

All the first-class mail for those districts.