PUBLIC SERVICES CURTAILED.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 14593, 1 May 1918, Page 7

PUBLIC SERVICES CURTAILED.

POST AND TELEGRAPH BHPART-

MENT.

(t'fir Press Association)

WELLINGTON, last night. Sir Joseph Ward, Postmaster-General, made the folio vying statement to-day : The calling up of the second division" for military service makes it necessary to •curtail the services given by the Po<*t and Telegraph Department to the public. Up to the present the Department has given the public facilities it enjoyed before the war, and although it has dono m m not a single caste has an appeal been lodged for exemption from -miKtaiv service by any member of the first division. In addition to releasing all men who volunteered and all called up by ballot, tlie Department supplied wireless troops, a special telegraph section, and a. special postal section and men to the reinforcements. These sections have been sent from time to time, so that at the present time the Department has really sent more than its quota. A large number of men of the second division have been called tip by ballot and if it is to release these men the Depart-' inent must curtail certain of its services It is proposed at once' to reduce the hours on ring which the public may s*nd telegrams or may expec^" letters to be delivered 1 over the counter or stamps to be sold. From time to time .is the en 11 for men makes it necessary, other curtailments will come into forco, and it is* proposed at the present time to make these restrictions apply only to those offices where the staff; is depleted. It is felt that the public will appreciate the iact that the curtailments are necessary and will assist the Department m every way possiblte. The .ipcact effect of the curtailment of the f&alities enjoyed by the public will be advertised as restrictions become necessary.