CHRISTMAS MAIL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21990, 22 December 1934, Page 12

CHRISTMAS MAIL

LETTERS AND TELEGRAMS INCREASE ON PREVIOUS YEARS The volume of mail matter being handled at the chief post office is the largest for a number of years. The brighter tone in business and the forthcoming visit of the Duke of Gloucester can bo associated with an active exchange of letters, telegrams and Christmas messages. Extra staff has been engaged in many post office departments to cope with the heavier work. It is expected that the peak of the last-minute rush of letters will occur to-day and on Monday, according to the chief postmaster, Mr. J. P. P. Clouston. He considered that the greatest number of telegrams would be handed in on Christmas Eve, as people generally left such things until the last minute. As an indication of the quantity of telegrams that would be handled next week, he quoted the example of one business firm which had ordered 500 special greeting message forms. In the mail room, telegraph department, and savings bank the staff had been built up by the addition of every available man, the chief postmaster stated. Those men who had specialised knowledge Had been withdrawn from their normal work and placed in a particular department. Half-holidays had been stopped, and the time allowed for lunch reduced. Three days' work was being provided for 150 extra schoolboys, who would be-engaged in indoor and outdoor routine work. There has been an increase of 1000 in the number of mail bags handled by the mail room during a four-days' period, compared with the corresponding period last year. The figures for the first part of this week are as follows, the totals for 1933 being given in parentheses: —Monday, 799 (785 V, Tuesday, 1032 (646); Wednesday, 1390 (1203); Thursday, 1455 (1055). To keep pace with the extra work the day staff is engaged from 7 a.m. until 10 p.m. The night staff goes on duty at midnieht and finishes at 7 a.m.