CHRISTMAS MAIL

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 66, Issue 62, 22 December 1945, Page 6

CHRISTMAS MAIL

POST OFFICE STAFF BUSY HEAVIER TRAFFIC THAN LAST YEAR The rush period in the mail-room at the Ashburton- Post Office reached its climax yesterday, which was the heaviest day the clerks and the postal staff have experienced this season.*

Besides the vast amount of incoming mail dealt with, there was a great deal of material posted at the Post Office for delivery all over the Dominion. Country people probably posted their Christmas mails yesterday.

The week has been an extraordinarily busy one, and was considered by ail official to-day to be much heavier than, last Christmas. Whereas last year the holidays fell during a weekend, this year the week previous to Christmas week has been regarded by most as the time to post mail. Consequently the rush period this year was extended over six days, against four last year.

A truck is being used in the town to avoid congestion at the parcel counter. Two men are employed on this job, while another delivers on his bicycle. There is a marked decrease this year in the number of broken packages arriving at, the Post, Office. Last year numerous parcels became damaged. Perhaps the quality of the brown paper and, string has proved a factor- in this matter.

The mail-room is a hive of.industry, particularly after the arrival of mail off the south-bound express in the mornings, when the staff is almost dwarfed by heaps of bags, and hampers. The task of sorting these ap-> pears rather formidable to. one not familiar with the procedure. The piles soon diminish, however, as the nimblefingered sorters deftly and efficiently get to work. The letters are tossed accurately into the mouths of rural delivery bags or pigeon-holes. Many hands make light work, and the task lis soon completed. It is expected that conditions will be back to normal about the- beginning of the week.