DUTIABLE MAILS

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 29, 4 February 1925, Page 6

DUTIABLE MAILS

CONGESTION AT THE POST OFFICE.

A correspondent ("Business Man") writes to "The Post" as follows :—

■ The business-, community of this city possess a longstanding grievance as to the small area allotted for obtaining parcels that have to be examined by a Customs officer. Last week the underground holo lias been packed as the result of the arrival of the steamer Rotorua from the Homeland. In fairness to the over-increasing volume of business which is transacted, the authorities' should in the immediate future provide ! more space for the, public 'and bettor facilities for the Customs officers . to j deal .'with their waiting clients. Another building should be found for the ! Civil Service Commissioner, who does not posses any! jurisdiction over the P. and T. Service, and the space at present occupied by the Chief Postmaster on the ground-floor sliould be allotted to the Customs officials. This would accelerate the work all round, and would, no doubt,' be appreciated by the public and tho Custom* officers, who are asked to work six months of the year in the hole underground. The revenue handled and the amouut of Customs work is too heavy a load for the present Customs staff to carry, and two senior officers should be on duty in place of one, and an assistant.

It is ascertained from the Post Office authorities that the correspondent is in error m assuming that only one Customs officer and an assistant are engaged at the parcel post office. There are at present stationed permanently at the parcel-post office two examining officers and a clerk. In addition, at rush times another examining officer is detailed for vmV f f, ccommod:ltlon at present prorem^^Sr' bUtit'h^"