§ 43. Mr. John Morganasked the Postmaster-General what arrangements operate for relatives and friends to conduct regular correspondence to and from the Forces serving in Palestine?
§ The Postmaster-General (Mr. W. S. Morrison)Mails for His Majesty's Forces serving in Palestine are forwarded with the civil mails for conveyance by surface routes at each available opportunity. In the reverse direction the authorities in Palestine are responsible for the arrangements, but I have no reason to think that they are not taking advantage of all available opportunities for the despatch of mails. Air mail correspondence addressed to the Forces in Palestine is forwarded by steamer to South Africa and thence by air, and air mails from Palestine are being received by the same route. In this connection I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for the Bilston division of Wolverhampton (Mr. Hannah) on 31st July, regarding the mail service from Palestine.
§ Mr. MorganWith regard to the ordinary postal arrangements, do all the letters go via South Africa, and what time can be regarded as normal?
§ Mr. MorrisonAt the present time normal mail would take about six to eight weeks, and air mail about 23 days.