DEPARTMENTAL INEFFICIENCY.

Waipa Post, Volume XXIV, Issue 1641, 14 May 1925, Page 4

DEPARTMENTAL INEFFICIENCY.

Sir, —Yesterday I asked at the local post office whether there would be any alteration in the mails-; to-day in consequence of the Prime Minister'sfuneral and was advised that there would;be no change except. that'"the office would be closed at 1 o'clock for ten minutes. I accordingly left my mail matter for attention in the usual way. Imagine my surprise and disgust this morning to find the post office closed and I am told that late yesterday instructions were issued to observe a whole holiday. Could we have a worse possible example of departmental inefficiency and want of regard for the needs of the public? Though I respect Mr Massey's memory as much as anybody I say it is the height of absurdity to close the post office in this fashion and disorganise private business. But assuming that the holiday is justified, was it necessary for the department to allow Monday and Tuesday and nearly all Wednesday to go by before making an announcement to enable private people to make their arrangements. It is a scandalous way of doing business, and cannot be tolerated by the public and even though I run the risk of being accused of showing a want of respect to Mr Massey's memory, I submit that this should be taken up by the public for a most vigorous protest. To announce in the morning that there is no alteration in mails and that the office will be dosed for ten minutes only, and to later decide that a holiday will be observed without notice is about the limit of departmental Now Mr Coates. because he has introduced long-overdue reforms in the railways is being praised as a model administrator. Let him get to work in the postal department and see that the public are not so negligently treated in future. Mr Coates must remember that he is handling two State monopolies which adds to his responsibility to do the fair thing by the public. The railways feel the pinch of motor competition and appeal to the people on sentimental grounds for support. A little more business efficiency would be more to the point and we owe thanks to the motor lorries for making railway officials mend some of their old monopolistic methods. Seemingly we must take what the postal officials give us or lump it; there is no form of competition there. The post office is a State monopoly to serve the public and not suit officials. Nothing but a monopoly or trust could declare a holiday on five •minutes.' and 'if the people submit quietly they must expect it to occur again and again.—Your, etc., TAXPAYER.