Christmas Mail Figures Ahead Of Last Year

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28155, 19 December 1956, Page 7

Christmas Mail Figures Ahead Of Last Year

Peak days of mail handling at the Chief Post Office for this year’s Christmas rush have far exceeded last year’s peak. On Monday, the post-marking machine put through 277,000 letters and cards,' 37.000 more than last year's peak of 240.000. Friday's figure of 270,100 was also much higher. Parcels and bulky mail are excluded from these totals because they do not go through the machines and part of the increase might be accounted for by the gradual change in the last few years from the gift package to the Christmas card.

A Post Office spokesman said yesterday that the public would have to do its posting quickly if letters were to arrive in time for Christmas. There were only five days of deliveries before Christmas.

The Post Office has kept well up with the rush and the mails department took advantage of the week-end

when business mails were negligible to complete clearances. The whole week-end mail was delivered by postmen on Monday. A falling-off in the amount of mail is expected in the few days before Christmas, but it might possibly be heavy on December 24 and December 27 as those who receive unexpected cards return others. The next outgoing mail for Australia closes at 2 p.m. on December 27 and for second-class mails at 10 a.m. on December 24. Outgoing mails for Britain and North America close at 2 p.m. on December 26 and 27 respectively.

Surface mails from Britain and the United States will arrive on Sunday and those from Australia on Friday. Canadian surface mails for New Zealand will not arrive until January 5.