RECORD MAILS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26963, 24 December 1948, Page 9

RECORD MAILS

DUNEDIN PEOPLE POSTED EARLY INCREASE IN TOLL CALLS The pebple of Dunedin responded so well tp the appeal by tne postal authorities in Dunedin to post their mail early this Christmas that the Chief Post Office in the city has been able to handle a record total. Twelve vehicles were required each day this week to carry parcels and packets for delivery. Together with the record number of inward mails handled, the Post Office staff has had to cope with an unusually large number of overseas mails in the past 10 days. Throughout the postal branches a wonderful spirit of co-operation has been shown, and yesterday’s and today’s mails were expected to be the heaviest for the year. From December 12 to December 21, 3323 bags of mail were despatched from the Dunedin office, arid 4042 were received, including 621 from overseas. Another 200 are in transit from Wellington. The telephone branch has also handled more toll calls than last year. In the three working days up to Wednesday night, the number of calls was 24 per cent, higher than last year. The greatest number of calls was made on Monday, when the figure of 2249 was close to the record total of 2293 handled by the toll office on February 27, 1948, in centenary week. The highest figure in the Christmas period last year was 2120 toll calls on Monday, December 22. Telephone officials said yesterday that there had been no difficulty in handling the large number of calls. On Sunday, 510 were made, hut after Monday’s high total the toll calls kept up to 2060 on Tuesday and 2063 on Wednesday.