PARCELS POST.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIV, Issue 28, 1 August 1907, Page 8

PARCELS POST.

ITS GREAT POPULARITY. The popularity of the parcels post among mercantile firms as a medium for the despatch of light, but bulky packages to their agents and customers in various parts'of the colony has increased so much of late as to strain the resources of the Parcels. Department, and affect in a considerable degree the business of the priTate carrying firms. One of the higher officials in the Post Office told a Post reporter this morning that the Parcels Poet Department had been seriously inconvenienced by this practice. Packages containing valuable articles such as hats, lace, delicate silks and other mercery, hurriedly wrapped up in brown paper and tied with a bit of string, ivere committed to the care of the department for despatch to the most distant and out-of-the-way places. This wr.s trcipaeeing too. mush on the responsibility of the department, and it had been decided that all parcels not sufficiently strengthened or protected would not be forwarded in future except at sender's risk. If the parcel be marked '"At sender's risk" it will be despatched without demur. " The> -manager of the New Zealand Exprcf»s. Company stated that hi 3 firm had undoubtedly felt the competition of the parcels post. " He explained that the system appeared to have been imported from the Old Country." Many shipments now came out in cardboard boxes, instead of in the old-fashioned packir.g-case. In ©he instance a saving of £2 had been effected on • a shipment occupying 60ffc ■pace, for by the parcels post system weight, not volume was tho ba=is of rating. Tho economy was so great that the' loss of a few packages by damage in transit vas easily covered. Wholesale houses preferred to run tho risk of breakage rather than pay the, cost of packingcases. There was a. double saving by going to the parcels post — in wharfage dues and in packing. The manager of the Colonial Carrying Company stated that the company had been compelled to reduce its rates very considerably in order to compete with the parcels ''post- He* thought that the shipping comp'-lniea and the Harbour Boards stood to lose a good deal by' the extension of the parcels post system. It was only in special. privileges and facilities for picking up parcels that the private carrying firms had any advantages to offer. They made use of the parcels post very frequently themselveo.

' To-morrow, at 2 o'clock, Messrs. W. H. Iforrih' and Co. will sell by public auction in their rooms. Willis-streot, household furniture; and at 230 o clock, 25 Canterbury hams. Particulars are advertised. Mrs. Ethel B. do Costa, LL.B., has commenced practice as a barrister and ■olicitor at No. 6, Nathan's Buildings, Grey-street. j Owners of horset are reminded of an auction sale of chaff, etc., at the Farmers Distributing .Co.'s late premise! 66, Vic-toria-rtraet (opposite Town Hall), to-mor-row *t 12.30 p.m. The winter sale of Messrs. Caterer and Carey's 'close* • on Saturday. It x« announced th*t all remnants will bo cleared to-jnorrow^and Saturday at half marked |>lrleei.~ ~" ■Messrs. Macdonald, Wilson and Co. will •ell to-morrow at 1.30 o'clock, at the residence of Mrs. Hooper, No. 18, Campbellterrace, Petone, the whole of her household furniture, etc., details of which aro advertised to-night. Messrs Keeling and Wynn- William* advertigo for «aio a. carrying plant and busine«s in the Waimrapa district,