POSTAL FACILITIES.

Evening Star, Issue 25782, 3 May 1946, Page 4

POSTAL FACILITIES.

The people of Dunedin will learn with satisfaction that an early improvement in local postal facilities is under consideration. As the months have passed since the end of the war the public has shown some impatience at the delays that have occurred in restoring the prewar service, which was both fast and efficient. The task of the Post Office is a considerable one, but the shortages of man power and of tyres, which were stated to be the principal obstacles to improved operation of the postal branch, must now' he about at an end. As long ago as last September the Chief Postmaster assured the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce that the nightly clearance of suburban letter boxes was high on the Post and Telegraph Department’s list of rehabilitation measures, but after seven montlis only slight improvements have been effected in the morning clearances of boxes at the suburban offices to permit later posting of letters for northern centres. It is probably necessary to introduce the reforms gradually, but there is some justification for suggesting that the Post Office has not shown any urgent desire to restore pre-war facilities. . ' -

The extent to which public convenience has suffered during the war years may not be fully realised by local residents who have become accustomed in the last six years to a less satisfactory service. The former clearance of suburban boxes late at night ensured that all letter mail posted anywhere in the city before that hour would proceed to its destination by the first trains next morning, or that local mail would be delivered in the city within about twelve hours. The change to clearance of boxes within daylight hours results in most cases in a delay of a whole day. unless the letter writer makes a special trip to the Chief Post Office or suburban offices. The two deliveries of mail daily to the suburbs were reduced’to one, causing similar delays in the handling of local mail or letters from other centres arriving in the city before midday. The sorting of second-class mail matter was slowed down considerably, and instead of being available to private box holders within a few hours after its arrival it had to wait for some time for the attention of a depleted sorting staff. This effect became particularly noticeable at w'eek-ends, and appeared to become worse rather than better this year, when services on Sat-

urdays seemed to be reduced still further. A month ago it was announced that the Saturday delivery of mails might ho discontinued, but this would no doubt be resented by a large section of the public who regard postal deliveries as an essential service which should not be curtailed in spite of the general trend towards a five-day week. Without doubt, the reputation for efficiency built up painstakingly by the Post Office necessarily suffered during the war years, and it will be generally hoped that it will pursue a vigorous policy to restore fully the services which it formerly performed for the public.