DOMINION NEWS

Grey River Argus, 18 April 1940, Page 4

DOMINION NEWS

CLOSING HOUR OF MAILS. CHRISTCHURCH, April 17. "We would like to emphasise that firms and private persons, should post regularly through the day their second class matter especially, such as accounts, newspapers, and packages. Otherwise the department may have to consider seriously the earlier closing of mails to avoid delays.’’ This was stated yesterday by the chief postmaster at Christchurch (Mr G. Clark), in emphasising the desirability of the public helping to avoid delays in the handling of correspondence by completing and posting letters and packages as soon as possible, irrespective of mail notice announcements on closing hours and dates. With mail within the city and the Dominion, Mr Clark said, some of the delay could be avoided if firms did not let their second-class matter accumulate for the final posting immediately before official closing times. The later postings might well be left for urgent letters and other first-class matter.

“We are asking people now—particularly with overseas correspondence —to post mail as soon as it is ready, irrespective of the mail closing times. It would be of very great assistance to the post office employees if people would post more regularly and avoid the concentration of mail in the last few minutes, or, for overseas mail, the last few hours. “The Chamber of Commerce recently discussed delays in handling correspondence—the delays apparently being attributed to censorship. The position is that the censors must have a certain amount of time for their work, which is made difficult when the bulk of the mail is received at the last minute.”

Another point the would .dike to mention, said Mr Clark, was the marking of air mail. The blue label “Par Avion,” should be used with all air mail correspondence. A real difficulty naturally resulted where envelopes were marked in one corner in ink, the marking frequently being obliterated by the post office marking machine. FLY-CASTING CONTEST. HAMILTON, April 17. A great deal of interest, is being taken by fly fishermen throughout the Auckland district in the casting tournament, to be held by the Hamilton Acclimatisation Club at the model yacht basin in the Hamilton lake on Saturday. Eight competitions have been arranged, in five of which the distance the competitors can cast a fly will be a teams’ casting match. A large number of entries have been received. USE OF FRUIT MACHINE. PENALTY OF £l5 IMPOSED. AUCKLAND, April 17. Charged with keeping as a common gaming house premises known as the El Rey Country Club, Hillsborough, M. McLennan, manager of the duo i Mr Terry), entered a plea of guilty in the Police Court yesterday before Mr J. Morling, S.M. Following complaints received concerning the use of a fruit machine at the club, said Senior-Sergeant Joyce, who prosecuted, constables in plain clothes visitea the premises at the . end of last De-I cember and during January, and 1 played on a fruit machine. When the

police warrant was executed the machine had disappeared. Accused said the machine did not belong to him, but he obtained 50 per cent, of its earnings.

Defendant was the manager of the club, said Mr Terry, which was conducted in a high-class manner. The machine had been installed only a few months exclusively for the use of patrons, who were all adults, and largely at their request. If defendant had known the machine was contrary to the law he would have removed it immediately. “It must be known by now,” said the Magistrate, “that these machines are illegal. The circumstances are slightly different in this case from those of recent prosecutions.” Accused was fined £l5. TRUBY KING MEMORIAL. WELLINGTON, April 17. The executive of the Dominion Council of the Plunket Society has received advice from the Prime Minister (Mr Fraser) that the Government has approved a grant of £2OOO to the fund for establishing a national memorial to Sir Trubv King, founder of the society..