FOR THE BOYS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 235, 5 October 1942, Page 4

FOR THE BOYS

PARCELS FROM HOME

BUSY DAYS AT POST OFFICE

The hoys overseas will get their parcels by Christmas, if their folks at home in Auckland have anything to do with it. Judging by the mounds of parcels piled up at the Albert Street post office this morning, Aucklanders need no prompting to be generous to their boys in the forces.

Parcels have been rolling in during the last two weeks, since early posting was advised to ensure that they reach their destinations bv Christmas.

This morning's visit to the post office presented a scene typical of the past fortnight. Two stacks of bags, each containing ten parcels, were piled up in one room ready for dispatch whenever New Zealand's sons are serving.. The supervisor, Mr. L. Jones, estimated that there would be 10,000 parcels there, representing only three days' posting. In the sorting room upstairs, parcels were being sorted alphabetically and then put into bags. There were nobbly parcels lovingly sewn up in calico, and neat cardboard boxes packed by firms for private people. One firm had sent in 1000 parcels that morning. Mr. Jones explained that the alphabetical sorting made the task at the other end simpler, since all parcels were card-indexed. It also expedited delivery to the troops. Relatives and friends were advised to post their parcels by the end of October, but there was a chance of delivery by Christmas, said Mr. Jones, if parcels were posted before the middle of this month. The concession allowing 111b to be sent for 2/, however, closed on September 30, and tne normal rate of 71b for 2/ now prevails.

During the fortnight's rush, about 40.000 parcels had been sent to the Middle East alone, and the staff were working anything up to 11 hours daily, including Saturday, said Mr. Jones. He added that few parcels were packed badly, the publichaving heeded advice about careful packing and addressing, owing to all the handling through which parcels go.