POSTMEN’S ATTIRE

Southland Times, Issue 22132, 28 September 1933, Page 12

POSTMEN’S ATTIRE

OPEN-NECK SHIRTS BANNED. Postmen in Britain have again been refused permission for the wearing of open-neck shirts. This is the decision of the Postmaster-General. The Union of Post Office Workers contend that the country postman, carrying a heavy bag along miles of hot and dusty roads, would be just as good a servant to the public and just as much respected by them if he had a collar open at the neck. But in the opinion of the Post-master-General, smartness of appearance which is associated in the public mind with efficiency, would be endangered. Postmen have another little grumble. One of them said: “We are tired of carrying matches in our hats and with putting cigarettes behind our ears. Why not have pockets in our tunics? “We are still attached to the badge of misfortune—the sack. Still, I suppose it Would look rather strange to see us deliver letters from an attache case and parcels from a suitcase or some other contraption. “Things are not quite as bad as they were a few years ago though, when we had to have our trousers creased down the sides instead of the middle. Our new caps are much more comfortable as well. With the old Victorian headgear, rain drained into the collar at the back and down the face.”