NO FURTHER "CUTS."

Sun (Christchurch), Volume V, Issue 1490, 21 November 1918, Page 4

NO FURTHER "CUTS."

PUBLIC SERVICES HOLDING ON. POSITION BETTER. From all branches of the public services to-day there comes a reassuring report. At the Chief Post Office, the shortage at 11 a.m. out of a total of 22£ was 60 instead of 64 at the same hour yesterday. Another officer certainly was "down," but five of the earlier victims reported for duty. At the suboffices the position was not quite so favourable, the sick-list having increased from 25 to 27. But with the great falling-off in the volume of work —there is no northern mail in or out today—the depleted staff is quite capable of maintaining existing services. In the Money Order and Savings Bank oiiiees there is undoubtedly a little congestion, and this may increase through the closing for a week of all private banks; but the staff is rapidly overtaking arrears, and there is no probability at all that any further curtailment of hours will be neeessarv.

At the Telegraph Office the epidemic still has a very heavy hold on certain departments. For the" morning shift today there were 26 messengers absent at 10 a.m. out of a total of 54, as well as four dispatch clerks out of eight. There were 18 females and five males absent out of a total shift of 40 in the exchange room. There were 12 of the line staff and "fault" men absent out of a shift of 21. Still, the position is not worse in general than at the same hour vesterdav.

With regard to complaints about the double charge now being made for telegrams, the department explains that this has been rendered necessary to prevent a complete breakdown. There is no notion, of course, of profiteering, but without a check on the volume of work the existing staff could neither have kept its health nor have handled messages without vexatious delavs.

The Railways are getting on well, a few men having returned to duty. The department insists on a decent interval before men are permitted to resume. There is a marked falling-off in passenger and goods traffic, so that the general tension is considerably relieved.

The Tramway Board is in practically the same position as yesterday. Two more men are away, but their places have been satisfactorily filled. Though the service is now being carried on with 29 cars and 20 trailers as against a normal complement of 51 cars and 45 trailers there will be no further reduction unless the epidemic increases in intensity. As was announced yesterday, convalescents are forbidden "to return within 14 days of the onset of their attack unless provided with a medical guarantee of safety. So far as the Tramway Board is concerned Christchurch is a "dead town" after 3.30; but to enable people to come in for medicine, etc.,-as well as to serve the public as generously as the men available will permit, the cars will continue running till 8.15 each night.