THE MAIL CLOSES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23527, 16 June 1938, Page 2

THE MAIL CLOSES

WHAT HAPPENS AFTERWARDS A RACE AGAINST TIME Why does the Post Office fix a time for closing mails which represents an appreciable gap between that time and the actual departure of the train or steamer? This question is often asked, but the right answer can only be given by those who have had an “ inside ” view of mail-room activities, and who know the many things which have to be done after the mail-box is emptied, and before the mail bags speed away to the waiting train. Without this knowledge one is apt to view the posting of a letter in the light of the individual transaction, though the immense mail business is providing a service to scores of thousands of clients, the majority of whom find it most convenient to “ clean up ” their correspondence at the last moment before closing the office for the day. So the Post Office has a daily problem of the last-minute rush, when an avalanche pours in for the widest possible variety of destinations. The public is generally able to separate overseas from inland correspondence when posting, but the mail room staffs cannot take this for granted. Steamers and trains, do not wait for the Post Office, but it is a rule of the mail room that every postal packet in the place at the time of closing a mail must be sorted First comes the “ facing up.’’ so that stamps can be quickly cancelled. Every letter in the big pile must be examined, so that it will not fail to get into the bag for the next despatch, whether within a few minutes, or, in the case of overseas mails, possibly a few days. The thousands of postal packets have reached their proper bags according to destination, and this in some cases involves several sortings, but the mail room staff has not finished its race against time. Letters must be tied up in bundles, and a letter bill prepared to go with the mail, specifying the office of origin and the destination, together with particulars of the mail enclosed in the bag. Each bag must, of course, be properly labelled, and a way-bill prepared for the whole route because transport staffs, whether rail, steamer or motor, must have their written instructions.

Mail bags are secured against interference on the journey by a special sealing process. The string for tying them is threaded through holes in a lead seal, the ends pulled tightly together, and then knotted. Finally the seal is clamped so that the string cannot be withdrawn without destroying marks indicating the office of despatch shown by a descriptive number impressed on the lead disc when the fastenings are clamped. Thus there are many things to be done after the mail closes, and before it can be despatched but all these things represent the minimum requirements of correct routing of all letters entrusted to the Post Office, and essential precautions that the mails will reach their proper destinations with safety and promptitude.