LETTERS AND TELEGRAMS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIX, Issue 131, 3 June 1918, Page 4

LETTERS AND TELEGRAMS.

FACILITIES CURTAILED. __ • t DELIVERIES REDUCED. NO NIGHT CLEARANCES. (By Telegraph.—Press Associattei) WELLINGTON, this day. The Post and Telegraph Department which has maintained hitherto its prewar service to the public, intends to bring about a curtailment of the facilities enjoyed by the public at the beginning of next month (July). From that date the midnight clearance of posting boxes will not be continued. The latest clearances in city areas will be not later than 7 p.m., and at the same time clearances will be made at all the suburban offices. In residential and suburban areas there -will be only two clearances daily, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Where there are now five deliveries of mail matter by lettercarrier, there will be only three in future; where now there are three the new arrangement will provide for two, and where now there are two one only will be the new rule. It is intended to make the first delivery at 9 a.m., so that correspondence from the south might be delivered. The closing of mails at an earlier hour is part of the new arrangement. All inland mails usually closing before 9 a.m. from July 1 will be closed at 8 p.m. the previous evening, and mails closing after 9 ajn. at a time yet to be determined, but at a time not more than three hours before the departure of the train or steamer. Mails for beyond the Dominion will close as follows: If the steamer is to sail before noon, at 8 p-m. the day before; if the steamer is to sail after noon, at a time to be arranged, but not more than four hours before the departure of the steamer. Parcel mails for dispatch will be closed on a similar basis. In the cities the post and telegraph office counter will not open until 9 aJa, and will close at 8 p.m. In the money-order and savings bank branch the hours will be those of commercial banks, i.e_, 10 a_m_ to 3 p.m. The telegraph, now open to the public j from 8 a.m. till midnight, in future will be open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. only. Those now open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. in future ■will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. only.