RURAL MAIL SERVICES

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, Issue 214, 24 August 1927, Page 7

RURAL MAIL SERVICES

15,472 BOXES IN USE. INCREASE ON LAST YEAR. (Special to “Tribune.”) Parliament Bldgs., Aug. 24. The Post and Telegraph Report states that there are now in use 15,472 rural boxes, an increase of 925 on the number for last year. The number of rural deliveries (including part rural deliveries) in operation at March 31st 1927, was 377, as against 365 for the year 1925-26. The demand for the large-sized rural box referred to in last year’s report is steadily increasing. Farmers appreciate the more commodious receptacle as it affords protection against the weather for bread, groceries, and other similar parcels which, although they do not pass through the Post Office, are frequently delivered by the mail contractor. Arrangements have now been made to exhibit a sample of the large box at suitable post offices.

It has been found possible to modify the regulations in the direction of permitting settlers to obtain a rural delivery in a case in which the number of families to the mile of travel is three in respect of a route of over 10 miles in length, and four in respect of a route of less than 10 miles. Formerly the required numbers of families were four and six respectively.