MAIL DOUBLED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 302, 21 December 1937, Page 8

MAIL DOUBLED.

LETTERS AND PARCELS.

EARLY RUSH ENCOUNTERED.

In the midst of a Christmas rush of correspondence, cards and parcels which exceeded last year's volume by fullv 25 per cent, the* staffs of the" city "and suburban post offices had experience yesterday and to-day of abnormal business.

Over 170,000 letters were put through the post-marking machine at the Chief Post Office yesterday, compared with a normal daily average of 00,000; parcels totalled 5000, as against half that number on an ordinary day; and telegraphic business also reflected the seasonal trend.

After making comparisons with the early days of Christmas week last year, the authorities at the po;<t office "were of opinion that the rush had set in earlier than usual. If this assumption proves correct the department will be in a much better position to cope with business in* the next few days. There is an additional advantage in that the week contains five days before Christmas, as compared with four last year.

In coping with the heavy deliveries of mail the Department been assisted by ideal weather conditions. The augmented staff of postmen, containing over 70 secondary school boys, and also members of the clerical and stores brandies, has been able to prevent any accumulation, and an effort will be made to maintain deliveries up to schedule even on the peak days of Thursday and Friday. The auxiliary mail room established at the railway station to deal with a portion of the parcels mail handled a total of 700 bags yesterday, which prevented excessive pressure on the staffs at Albert Street, where, of course, parcels traffic was heaviest.

When on Friday 2600 bags of mixed correspondence, 900 of which are for Auckland, arrive by the Mariposa from San Francisco, organisation at the post office will be put to its final test, but the hope was expressed that all letters and packets would be delivered before the closing hour on Christmas Eve.