MAIL FROM HOME.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 176, 26 July 1940, Page 6

MAIL FROM HOME.

CAMP POST OFFICE.

LETTERS, TOLLS, TELEGRAMS

SOLDIERS KEEP IN TOUCH.

A letter a day keeps the soldier happy! Behind that thought are some interesting facts concerning the work of the post and telegraph office at Hopu Hopu camp, where, at present, officers and n.e.o's of the Auckland Territorial artillery and engineering units, and members of the Railway Engineers' Company are undergoing training.

Under the charge of the postmaster, Sir. W. ]!. Robertson—himself a returned soldier—a surprising volume of work is being handled in that post office. It is the most up-to-date building in the camp, and one of the most greatly used. In addition to Mr. Robertson, a staff of four clerks is kept busy during the times, 9 n.m. to 5 p.m., and 6 p.m. to 8.30 p.m.. when the office is open for business.

Indications are that the men are not being neglected so far as mail is concerned. Mr. Robertson states that the

inward mail averages 11 letters a man each day. The men are not neglecting the notice to "write home first," either. The outward mail averages a letter a man a dav.

The mail clerks have handled up to 3000-odd inward letters in one day and 2.>00 outward. The average, however, is about 2000 inward and 1000-odd outward letters.

Receipt and dispatch of telegrams also have relatively high totals" On each of two days in succession 337 telegrams were sent out from the camp post office, and there were in the vicinity of 170 inward messages. The average does not, however, quite reach those figures.

Telephone toll calls reach a surprising total each night. Usually at night there is a queue lined up throughout the hours, from 6 p.m. to 8.30. when the office is open. An additional activity is associated with the savings bank, though military pay does not assist too many records to be broken in this direction!

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