EARLIER MAILS.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19724, 14 September 1929, Page 9

EARLIER MAILS.

BUSINESS MEN'S REQUEST. MINISTER PROMISES CONSIDERATION. An earlier delivery of the first morning mail to parts of Hereford and Manchester svreets was asked for by a deputation of business men from that area who waited on the PostmasterGeneral (the Hon. Mr Donald) yesterday afternoon. The Minister promised the request favourable consideration. The deputation consisted of: Messrs Wm. C. Collins (Christchureh Building Society), D. Stock (D. Stoek and Co.), D. A. Gunn (F. Williamson and Co.), and J- H. Merrie. Mr Collins said that there was a general feeling of dissatisfaction amongst the business people of part of Manchester street and of Hereford street between Manchester street and Colombo streets, in-regard to the lateness of the first morning delivery of mails. The locality was the principal office centre in Christchureh, and within "a few chains of the Chief Post Office. The first delivery there was usually from 10.i>0 a.m. "to 11 am., while private houses in the suburbs had deliveries about 8.30 to 9.30 a.m. *

Important firms and people who had urgent business correspondence to attend to should be given delivery early in the morning, continued Mr Collins. Often the mail was received at 11 a.m., and replies for the southern mails closed at the G.P.O. at 11.10 ajn.

The postman concerned began Mb round at Dalgety's buildings in Cathedral square, did the Square, then High street to Cashel street, Cashel street to Manchester street, Manchester street to Hereford street, and Hereford street to Colombo street, so that offices in Hereford street, between Manchester street and Colombo street, were served last of all. The deputation felt justified in asking for the speeding up of City morning deliveries, even if some of the less important private correspondence in the outer areas was slightly delayed. They had made representations to the Chief Postmaster, and had received a courteous reply, but no practical suggestion as to how the difficulty could be overcome.

The other three, speakers supported Mr Collins's remarks.

Mr Donald asked if it would be any advantage if the postman left earlier with the southern mail, and left the northern mail till the second delivery at 11 o'clo k. Mr Collins: We would be loth to have the north mail left till the second delivery, but that arrangement would certainly give us more time to deal with the south mail-

Mr Merrie suggested that the postman could start off by going up Hereford street first one morning, and up High street first the next.

The Minister did not think this a good arrangement, because the business people would not know on which days the mail was coming early. He promised, however, to go into the matter as he recognised the necessity for business people having their' mail as early as possible. The beat way out of the difficulty of course was for the firms concerned to get. boxes. Mr Collins:. Free, sir?

The Minister: That's what the country people are asking us for. I have for some time held that the facilities provided by the Post and Telegraph Department in New Zealand are as good as any in the world, and Mr G. McNamara, our secretary, who has jUBt returned from a tour abroad, confirms this view. Of course we are trying to make it better.

Mr Collins, in thanking the Minister for the audience, said they were trying to find a solution to the difiieulty without getting post office boxes. The Minister stated that they could not put another man on, because the one who did the round now worked only seven hours a day.