POSTAL MANAGEMENT AND ARRANGEMENT.

Auckland Star, Volume VI, Issue 1672, 28 June 1875, Page 2

POSTAL MANAGEMENT AND ARRANGEMENT.

To the Editor :—Sir, —There is now out and abroad an imputation of some degree of postal mismanagement. I have this week seen a word in the several newspapers here, about the necessity of some particular postal improvement. It has been stated that Parnell has a regular postal house-to-house delivery, and that the more populous place lately called Newton has none -a rather surprising statement. If the people for days expect letters, they have to dance attendance before some grocer's pigeon-hole. And letters unexpected, though highly important, are often gotten too late. If so, it really appears inequitable; and also seems a limitation of the usefulness of the postal institution. Only, I should say, that the Parnell delivery affair, mentioned by said complainants in their gratuitous comparison, is decidedly incomplete. For instance, our two members of the Provincial House, because living a few fathoms off the main road, have no delivery ; and yet Reader Wood's correspondence is very large. So with many others. The deficiency has to be supplied by the courtesy of neighbours, who are by authority pointed out and painted up receivers.—Well, the postal service is certainly of immense importance Its importance is, I think, quite inestimable. It shows to "the common people," better than any other institute, the necessity and importance and value of secular governments ; and, therefore, if any supposed improvements in working of the system be required, then to point them out ia to do good. In so saying, lam assuredly also thinking on the money question, for is there not misappropriation ? A letter not delivered, but only left in honorable waiting, may involve, nay has often entailed grievous effects. " Ob, just four days too late ! I had previously called for it often. Oh, dear ! this is bad."—And, morover, I say the Parnell plan of delivery is also imperfect. Surtly our New Zealand revenue is nnfairly appro priated and expended. Some very poor public service is highly paid. Some so-so, indifferent public servants are largely paid. And some really good service is put upon courtesy and no remuneration. There are duly appointed receiving houses. Now these receiving houses might be and ought to be of vastly greater service to the public ; but the extraordinary fact of being no awarded remuneration (not so much as a shilling, sir. To most people this is incredible ; but Borne of us being high transcendentalists we must live on the good climate and on courtesy) there being no remuneration the accommodation is minimised unsatisfactorily. This reprobated style of management does really seem more than erroneous, it looks a little like the ridiculous. And, a^ain, there ought to be a branch delivery here, from this our Post Office, sweeping through the outlying streets and chief adjacent roads. The inequitable arrangement should be instantly rectified, and without fuss or circumlocution. —I am, &c, W. E. Sadler.