CHRISTMAS RUSH AT POST OFFICE: MAILMEN BUSY

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22821, 16 December 1948, Page 6

CHRISTMAS RUSH AT POST OFFICE: MAILMEN BUSY

The Chief Post Office, Gisborne, is now becoming geared up to the customary Christmas rush, with postmen in particular, facing long hours of work during the next seven working days. Mails dealt with through the office have gradually increased during the past 10 days, until this morning the real Christmas rush began. Greeting cards are now beginning to comprise a large part of the mail, and according to a postal official, these are being posted earlier this year than was the case last year. , Seven postmen and their assistants were engaged from 6 a.m. this morning to mid-day sorting the mail to be deilvered in the Gisborne borough. The job of delivering the mail was expected to occupy the postmen until about 7 o’clock today. Next week they will start sorting the mail at 5 a.m. and will probably be working up to 16 hours each day. Parcels and Packets

As yet few small parcels and packets have begun to come through the post, but it is expected that those containing Christmas gifts will start to arrive next week. This morning 74 bags of overflow mail—about twice the usual consignment —containing small parcels and papers, were delivered by truck to various parts of the borough. A large amount of parcel mail is being received over the counter at the Chief Post Office and the mail room staff has been augmented to cope with this and the extra letter mail. Additional premises in Lowe street have been acquired temporarily and all inward parcel mail is being dealt with there.

Members of the mail-counter staff are also being kept busy, four tellers being detailed to deal with the numerous customers this morning. As yet the telegraph branch has noticed little increase in the usual work.