ARRANGEMENTS AT COUNTRY POST OFFICES.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue LXVIII, 12 August 1914, Page 5

ARRANGEMENTS AT COUNTRY POST OFFICES.

s'By Telegraph—Spbciat., to Star.] WELLINGTON, Aug. 11. The member for Waipawa asked the Postmaster-General to-day if he would make arrangements by which country telegraph offices which close at 5 p.m. could be opened, say, between 7 and 8 p.m., for the purpose of communications between members of the expeditionary force and their relatives and friends. Ths Minister replied that he issued instructions yesterday that those post offices were to be kept open till, say, 8 or 8.30 pv*n. where the postmaster or mistress Jived on the premises. It was hardly fair to ask offices to open, but he believed they would do so gratuitously, and where-

ever such was done messages could be accepted or despatched. In answer to further enquiries about the publication at country offices of war news, where there was no daily or only a morning daily newspaper, the Hon. Mr Rhodes pointed out that all the news received so far had come through the Press Association and such news could not be circulated because it was protected by copyright. The Government had, however, communicated with the High Commissioner, considering that if all the High Commissioners got I together they might by com fined representation obtain reliable news from the War Office for despatch to their respected Governments.. Replying 1o Hon. D. Buddo, who suggested that the establishment of a press bureau in England supplied with official news could be utilised to keep New Zealanders well informed by prompt cables, the Prime Minister stated that he had already made arrangements to get the news. It would be given urgency on the cables.