BUSY MONTH FOR POST OFFICE

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21792, 26 May 1936, Page 5

BUSY MONTH FOR POST OFFICE

MOTOR LICENSING MANY OTHER TASKS If it were only a question of taking the registration fees and issuing the new motor license plates by the end of May, the Post Office would not be troubled over the possibility of lastminutes rushes and heavy work during the present week, when it will complete the collection of approximately £430,000 from the motor owners of the Dominion.

This month is a particularly busy one in the department, because a number of other large financial tasks have to be undertaken. There is the collection of the quarterly unemployment levy and the distribution of declaration of income forms, and the collection of the first instalment of unemployment tax in respect to income other than salary or wages for the year ended March 31. This emergency income-tax and the quarterly unemployment levy will probably total £470,000. The cnd-of-the-month rush will be further accentuated by the task of distributing through the Post Office £76.000 in superannuation payments. and £300,000 constituting the monthly instalments of pensions.

Meanwhile the normal business must be carried on with dispatch. Savingsbank deposits and withdrawals aggregating 3i to 4J millions a month are heaviest at the beginning and end of the period; postal notes issued and paid number 500.000 in a month; money order business reaches £280,000; about £220,000 will be collected during the month for the Mortgage Corporation, £36.000 for the Public Trust Office; £70.000 for other Government departments, as well as over £IOO,OOO in telephone exchange fees, and between £IOO.OOO and £120,000 from the sale of postage stamps, the last activity being more extensive at the moment owing to the Anzac commemorative stamp campaign. Motor license registrations will be larger than in previous years, therefore the registrar of motor-vehicles, to meet the convenience of the public during this last week of relicensing opportunity, has decided to keep open the relicensing depots at the larger centres each night until 8 o’clock. In previous years only the final day has been extendeu into a “late night.” It is a heavy week for the counter clerks, but the department’s concern over early application for motor registration is due more to a desire that irritating delays shall not be experienced through members of the public leaving the inevitable task with too great unanimity until the last day. FRUIT Gather and stpre late apples as they become fit. The early planting of fruit trees has much to commend it. Do not think that because fruit trees are leafless they are inactive. Deciduous trees have but a very short period of rest. As soon as the leaves have fallen pruning may be begun. It is not wise to defer this important work until spring, with the exception of peaches, nectarines, and apricots. In some localities where there are heavy frosts these trees are liable to have their branches frozen and are best left unpruned until this danger is past. Apples, pears, and plums, if left until late spring before pruning is carried out, are liable to sap loss. When this occurs it is most detrimental to the health of the trees. Do not prune cherries in winter, as it only causes bleeding. If they are growing too fast it is better to root prune them in early autumn. Finish the pruning of all small fruits as soon as possible. SHRUBS During the winter months anything that adds brightness to the surroundings is fully appreciated. Consequently any plant that flowers or fruits "during these months is of special garden value. At the present time two Australian shrubs are flowering freely. Both are dwarf-growing. Given a sun-baked position, they will flower profusely throughout the winter months. Grevillea alpina var dellachiana has red flowers which are borne in great profusion. In fact, this cheery little subject is never out of bloom. Correa speciosa, known as the Australian fuchsia, is well worth a place where winter flowering plants are desired. The tubular scarlet flowers are borne on the extremities of each lateral branch. Like most Australian plants, they are evergreen. FARM TREE PLANTING Where the macrocarpa will thrive, no better tree could be selected by the farmer. The timber is durable and may be put to many uses. When used as posts few timbers can surpass it for durability. Being of straight growth, the saplings make splendid rails. It makes rapid growth. The macrocarpa grows best where the soil is well drained and where it can obtain a good root run. Closepacked shingly soils are not to its liking. In its native habitat it is practically confined to a few miles of sea coast on the Monterey Peninsula and in Southern California. It is remarkable that from this same locality was obtained the well-known pinus insignis. For planting in Canterbury the pinus insignis and cupressus macrocarpa are two of the most useful evergreen trees that have been introduced. When used for farmyard shelter or grown as a hedge it may be planted from one to two yards apart and kept trimmed. When grown for this purpose it forms an effective wind break and may be trained to any height rerequired. When used for shelter and timber purposes it should not be planted too far apart. The trees will then grow straight and side branches will be suppressed. Macrocarpa do not transplant well out of the open ground unless planted when quite young. The best results are obtained by using plants one year old and grown in boxes. From these it is seldom that any deaths occur. Box-grown plants are best put in as early as possible.