CHRISTMAS MAILS

Waikato Times, Volume 123, Issue 20693, 31 December 1938, Page 9

CHRISTMAS MAILS

BIG HAMILTON INCREASE RAILWAY OFFICERS KEPT BUSY BUSINESS AT FRANKTON JUNCTION An Indication of the vast amount of work involved in sorting Christmas mails is gained from the comparative figures relating to Hamilton and ton Junction railway station offices, supplied by the chief posunaai.;* ,u Hamilton. The volume of mail handled at those two depots was probably greater than in any previous year and certainly exceeded the figures for 1937. The officials were toiling day and night in order to expedite the sorting and delivery, while the postmen were working from early in the morning until late at night in an effort to have the thousands of letters and parcels in the hands of the public as soon as possible. At the Hamilton station the figures were well in advance of the previous year. The number of parcels received was in excess of those for 1937 by 1311, bags of mail by 31, and parcel receptacles by 73. An indication of the amount handled in the various lots is gauged from the following inward figures for the first four days of 1938 with those for tile corresonding period of 1937 in brackets: —

Dispatches from Hamilton Mails dispatched from Hamilton were also well in excess of the previous year. The number of hags sent out exceeded the number for 1937 by 376, receptacles by 39. Figures for the outward mails are as follows:

Business at Frankton An even busier time was had bv the postal officials at Frankton. The inward figures there were naturally considerably greater than at the smaller depot. Again the amount of business executed was greater by 550 bags and 152 receptacles than that for the previous year, as the following figures show:—

Outward mails showed an increase over the previous year by a considerable margin. The number of bags despatched were in excess of 1937 by 332,.whi1e 333 more parcel receptacles were sent out. The position is explained as follows:

Railway Figures A marked increase was also shown in the amount of mail taken by rail. The number of bags conveyed were up by 887. and the number of receptacles by 634. The following arc the respective figures:—

Bag's Receptacles Parcels First flay— 135 (185) 4 4 (44/ 392 (417) Second day— 237 195) 08 (32) 417 (326) Third day— 225 (214) 71 (44) 1041 (308) Fourth day— 203 (175) 44 (36) 800 (338) •00 (709) 227 (151) 2700 (1380)

First day Second day Third day Fourth day Bags Receptacles - 339 (189) 33 (21) . 318 (248) 29 (25) . 2T6 (156) 20 (9) . 168 (132) 14 (4) 1101 (725) 96 (59) During the bags had to number used than in 1937. following:— Christmas rush overflow be resorted to and the this year was 70 more This is shown by the Overflow Bags First day .. 108 (124) •Second day .. 144 (134) Third day .. 154 (136) Fourth day .. 156 (98) 502 (492)

Kates Receptacles First day .. 339 (69) 81 (9) Second day .. 399 (289) 117 (82) Third day .. 408 (402) 110 (i06 > Fourth day .. 445 (389) 128 (146) Fifth day .. 470 (362) 195 (143) 2061 (1511) 631 (479)

„ . Rag-s Receptacles First d*y .. 278 (26) 1 18 (3) second day .. 3G0 (307) 1 <)8 («»n Third day .. 876 (38T) 111:1 (13 4 j Tourth day .. 4ar, (37a) too (US' Kirth day .. 3(ii (3S7) 161 mo 1812 (1480) 860 1525)

. lags npceptacles First (lav .. 509 (!->T) -JOS (7) Second day .. 986 (583) 30:1 M25'. 2£ ir( L da . y *• 83u (835) 642 (266) Fourth day .. 769 (64-8) 311 (281) nrth day .. 638 (625) 227 (288) 3741 (2854) 1601 (967)