HASTINGS POST OFFICE FIGURES

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIII, Issue 16, 30 December 1932, Page 7

HASTINGS POST OFFICE FIGURES

THE XMAS. BUSH. OFFICIALS HAVE BUSY TIME. The big rush of postal and telegraph business that is customary for the Xmas, period for all post offices was fully shared at Hastings, and thanks to efficient organisation the work was carried out in a manner satisfactory to the public. The figures indicate a general all lound decrease in every department, particularly in the savings bank division, this being due mainly to the fact that Saturday is usually a big day with depositors, but this year the bank was virtually closed from mid-day as Xmas. Eve fell on the Saturday. In the telegraph and telephone department there were fewer calls and telegrams this year than last, though the number of cables received and sent showed a slight increase. Last year the total value of stamps sold amounted to £751 5/-, and this year the value was £355 9/6. However, twelve months ago the postage rates were double, so that on the actual number of enquiries for stamps there was a fair increase. The air mail did not prove quite so popular this year, the outward figures being as follow: — 1931 1932

The Savings Bank figures show that for the week prior to Christinas 34 more people banked money than last year, though the total amount was less by £3150, whilst 48 more people withdrew money, the amount being £2243 more than twelve months ago. The average amount deposited, however, was £ls 4/-, compared with £2l, and the average sum withdrawn was £ll 18/-, in comparison with £ll 10/twelve months ago. It would seem that the people this year spent more money than last during the festive season. * For the week ending December 23, the figures were as under: —No. of deposits, 1931 505, 1932 486. No. of withdrawals, 1931 865, 1932 952. Amount of deposits, 1931, £11,655; 1932, £9377. Amount of withdrawals, 1931, £10,476; 1932, £11,578. For Christmas Eve alone the figures were:—No. of deposit?: 1931, 133; 1932, 86. No. of withdrawals: 1931, 143; 1932, 104. Amount of deposits: 1931, £2019; 1932, £1176. Amount of withdrawals: 1931, £1086; 1932, £979. The combined totals are:— Number. 1931 1932 Deposits 838 672 Withdrawales .... 1,008 1,056 Amount in £. Deposits 13,702 10,552 Withdrawals 10,314 12,557 TELEGRAMS AND TELEPHONE. As was the case last year Christmas Eve was the biggest and hardest day so far as the officials of the telegraph and telephone departments were concerned, though the amount of work put through was not as great as twelve months ago. The detailed figures foi the four days ending Christmas Eve are no fnllnwi—

For Christmas Eve the figures were: —Outward calls: 1931, 602; 1932, 536. Inward calls: 1931, 213; 1932, 178. Outward telegrams: 1931, .1230; 1932, 1062; Inward telegrams: 1031, 1559; 1932, 994. Outward cables: 1931, 38; 1932, 29. Inward cables: 1931, 44; 1932, 32. POSTAL TRANSACTIONS. This year was busier than ever in tin mail-room, though the actual number >f mail bags handled wns less than 'ast year, but there was an enormous ■ uantity of small parcels which necessiat.ed more hampers. The figures for the four days up to mas Eve are as follow:—

A number of youths were temporaril mnloyed for the week preceding Xmir | ml in this way the department was ' able to carry out the deliviries expeditiously.

1195 703 Reg. Articles • 123 3 64 2 Total 1382 708 SAVINGS BANK.

as follow: — 1931 1932 Outward calls .... 2,437 77S 2,236 Inward calls 694 Outward telegrams 2,662 2,231 Inward telegrams 2,952 2,201 Outward cables .. 61 81 Inward cables .... 70 77

1931 1932 1 award bags 615 560 Inward hampers 74 100 Outward bags .... . 609 ■ 525 Outward hampers . . 54 61