HELPING THE POSTMAN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24528, 10 February 1941, Page 7

HELPING THE POSTMAN

HOUSEHOLDERS' GOOD RESPONSE There has teen a gratifying response to the appeals made by. the Post Office for the erection of' gate letter-boxes. In recent months no fewer than 55,000 householders have erected boxes, with the result that 236,000 (or 86 per cent.) of the 275,000 householders in the Dominion served by postmen are now directly easing the burden on individual postmen and helping the department to conserve its man-power at a time when this is essential in the national interest;’ Gisborne and Inglewood are two towns which have splendid records so far as the erection of boxes is concerned. In both these places every householder served by postmen has complied with the department’s request. , Another town with a good record is Nelson, where there are 3620 householders and only about 70 have not provided boxes. . < “. The Post Office intends shortly U make a further appeal to those householders throughout the Dominion whe have not yet complied with requests for the erection of letter boxes ft their gates. Over 1000 trained officers of the Department have already been released for military service with the overseas forces, several hundred more are expected to be called up at ar, early date, and approximately 500 officers are at present undergoing territorial training. Coincident with this heavy drain on its trained staff, the Posl Office has undertaken many additional activities arising out of the war, and in consequence of these extraordinary demands it is finding it increasingly difficult to maintain fully its services to the public. By. the, provision o{ gate letter-boxes householders can give the department real assistance in coping with the present abnormal conditions. ~