OUR POSTAL SLEUTHS

Hawera Star, Volume L, 14 February 1931, Page 9

OUR POSTAL SLEUTHS

T) ROB ABLY few postal administrations take as much trouble with correspondence insufficiently or quaintly addressed as does the British General Post Office, says “The Times.” At one time there were battles of wit between a section of the public and the sorters, when letters with puzzle pictures, cryptic drawings, anc» freaK addresses found their way into the letter boxes, and it. was a point of pride to see that they were correctly deciphered and the letters delivered. Nowadays the G-.P.0. cannot waste time on tasks of this sort, and, although a sorter may occasionally solve a -“problem” address, the general practice is to return 'lie communications, where possible, to the senders. As a result, few such addresses are now seen on envelopes. In every other way the Department goes beyond its own rules to help when it is obvious that lack of knowledge or illiteracy are the reasons -for addresses being vague or inaccurate. There is on record the case of an American who, not knowing where his sister was, addressed a letter to an earlier residence of hois —“ Upper Norwood, or elsewhere.” The letter was delivered to her on the top of a coach in Wales.

Puzzles Set by Letters

Expressing his thanks, the American said, “No other country could show a parallel, or would take the trouble at any cost.” In many instances the quick-witted staff of the curiously named “blind” section of the Post Office, wnich deals with incorrectly addressed correspondence, can see at a glance what an address is intended to be. “Sir lordmear of 'London Manc-houso” is easily transcribed as ‘‘The Lord Mayor of London, Mansion House”; “21 Rus-Sel-street Komerscldock” becomes 21, Russell street, Commercial Dock”; “in no Jamptshire” is translated as “Northamptonshire”; “lobin” is “High Ilolborn!” “Obanvidock” is “Ilolborn Viaduct”; “Sjoiridok” is meant for “Surrey Dock!” “’Has bedaller such ” should bo “Ashby de is Zouelie”; “Saintlings” is read as “St. Helens. ’ ’ Puzzles like these must seem of minor importance to the Post Office ‘when it receives, in answer to an inquiry why mail was delayed, the answer, “ The European mail due Baghdad was lost in the desert, the camel having strayed while the driver slept,” or the more tragic note from India, “Runner and letters eaten by tiger.”