LETTER BOXES ON TRAMS

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23318, 2 May 1941, Page 10

LETTER BOXES ON TRAMS

SCHEME REJECTED . SHORTAGE OF STAFF IN . ‘ POSt OFFICE ;: A shortage, of manpower in the post office was given by Mr V.» C. Lawn, chief 1 at Christchurch, as: why the system of posting; on-,trams, could not be .instituted iix 'accbrdance; with a suggestion made Some(,months ago,by the .Canterbury. Chamber, Of Commerce., Speaking at the meeting of the council of the chamber'last evening, Mr Lawn said that the post office ■.■ regretted . that it was: unable ■to meet; the chamber’s request. ' ' Mr R. V, White reported that he had| gone very thoroughly into the Scheme >■with Mr Lawn, who had- given every assistance, and who was anxious to 'irteet the chamber if possible. The matter-had been taken up with the authorities-in Wellington and carefully examined. "We are asking for a considerable disturbance in the routine of .the. post office” * said Mr White, "Personnel has been .greatly reduced, by war-time enlistments, and the post office is. at present working under difficulties. lam not sure that we should press for a service that would make a considerable disturbance to the office routine." -

The-: expense .of fitting all trams ■ with posting boxes would be great, said Mr Lawn, but it was hot so much • a matter of, expense as of manpower. 1 About 1400’post office employees were { at present actually overseas, and with I territorial and other service, more ’■ than 1 3000 employee? were engaged on military duties. Girls had been taken 1 on in place .of men wherever possible, ft but; anything increase ' the use of manpower was-against war- * time economy. Apart :»from boxes at, suburban • offices, there were 272 street receivers * in Christchurch, of ' which 230 were i cleared, twice a. or more,. Mr Lawn said. .He.thought that a good service. l%e post office found that most of the • letters posted at night were personal I and not business letters. A few businessmen, of course, took work home and posted, letters late, but it was not t possible to ’cater for the few. , 4, i regret that wo are-not i able to ■ meet the chamber in thls matter,’’ said * Mr Lawn. "I think the position is go- ; ing to become more serious, and that i we will -have to look for. further curt tailment of services before, thp end .ox , the war."