What about YOUR letter box?

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33003, 24 August 1972, Page 9

What about YOUR letter box?

The New Zealand Post Office has an enviable record for reliability in getting the mail through. Each year it handles hundreds of millions of items of mail and goes to great lengths to see that everything arrives safely at its destination. Quite often, however, the recipient of the mail is the least careful as the final

link in the chain of delivery. Mail passes through many hands in the course of transit. It may be carried by motor van, train, aircraft, ship, rowing boat, bicycle and even on foot. But all this amounts to nothing if a letter is not finally delivered into a safe letter box.

In Christchurch there are dozens of letter boxes which offer only minimal shelter for mail. An open ended butter box cannot be regarded as a safe receptacle for mail, especailly the likes of an income tax refund. Some boxes are very badly sited making it diffi-

cult for the postman to reach. There are those boxes which sit on the ground, others only a few inches above the ground. Such boxes are hardly a help to the postman. With a heavy load on the front of his bike, he is moving into an extremely hazardous position if he has to

bend over full length to put letters into a “low slung" box. More than likely he will over-balance and end up with his bicycle and half his mail on top of him. The Post Office therefore urges people to consider these points regarding their letter boxes: Does the box fully protect the mail from wind and rain? Is the letter box well situated and within easy reach of the postman? Shoulder level is considered the ideal height. Is the house number clearly shown on the front of the letter box? If there is no house number does the letter box carry the name of the occupant of the house? The Post Office says these points might seem trivial enough but when it comes to the safe delivery of mail, those responsible like to be sure.