LETTER BOXES ON TRAMS

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23086, 31 July 1940, Page 5

LETTER BOXES ON TRAMS

* SUGGESTIONS SAID TO BE IMPRACTICABLE His opinion that suggestions for installing letter boxes on trams were impracticable, especially at present, was reaffirmed by the Chief' Postmaster at Christchurch (Mr G. Clark) yesterday, in reply to statements made by correspondents to "The Press.” “As from July 15, when night clearances of street posting boxes were abolished, a petrol saving equivalent to 120 miles a day for Christchurch has been brought about," said Mr Clark. "This was one of the objects of the Dominion-wide step in abolishing night clearances,. the other being to conserve manpower. 1 may add that of 250 street receivers, only 15 are cleared by motor vehicles, and« these clearances are made only in conjunction with the scheduled receipt and delivery of other mails. "At present, the clearance of boxes situated in the business area is made at 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., from Monday to Friday, and at 12.30 p.m. on Saturday. For the town area, those boxes outside the business area are cleared at 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., also during the week and 12.30 p.m. on Saturday, while boxes in the suburban area are cleared at 9 a.m. apd 3. p.m. from Monday to Friday, and at 9 a.m. on Saturday. A number of boxes on the outskirts are cleared daily by postmen on their rounds. Department’s Attitude "In introducing' these changes, the department appreciates that, in general, street box postings will be. delayed for a half-day, and in cases for a whole day, in delivery. Under the existing conditions, the department feels that this is not unreasonable for postings of domestic matter that in most cases are not urgent. It is still open to the public to post urgent letters a little earlier or at the central office, or to make use of telegraph or telephone services. “The present system works smootnly and there has been no difficulty since the change was brought about, Mr Clark added. "The same number of letters is being handled. It is hardly likely that the department would contemplate a change in the system in one city only, moreover, and it is no more likely that it would change, particularly at this time, a system working satisfactorily for one which is untried here, such as installing boxes on trams. , J , ~ "To mention a few of the obvious difficulties, it would mean that each of the 92 trams, six petrol buses, 11 trolley-buses, and 12 Diesel buses would need to be fitted with boxes, and it would probably require the full-time services qf at least two men to make regular clearances from the trams. A considerable cost would need to be borne by the department. There would almost certainly be added, difficulties in ■ increased stoppages of trams to pick up letters, and conductors or motormen would probably be faced with being expected, at intervals, to act as postmen and accept parcels or assess postage charges. Trams, at times, would go to depots without passing the clearing point, which would mean extra work. On Sundays and holidays there would be no clearances, and steps would be necessary to see that all tram boxes were closed. With trams arriving at the Square (as a presumed clearing point) every few minutes from about 1 7 a.m. to almost midnight, even a clearance at periods of, say, an hour, ’ would probably result in the uneconomic use of labour. Apart altogether from the department’s attitude is the question of how the Christchurch Tramway Board would view the proposal.”