UNDER DIFFICULTIES

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 118, 21 May 1942, Page 8

UNDER DIFFICULTIES

POSTAL SERVICE

COMMERCIAL MEN'S PRAISE

Whether the extent of the curtailment of services rendered by the Post and Telegraph Department was justified by existing conditions was a subject recently raised for investigation and discussion by various chambers of commerce following a letter originating from the Dunedin Chamber.

That the postal staffs in Auckland were carrying out their duties under considerable difficulties resulting from depleted ranks and added duties, in a manner which deserved the commendation of the public, was the summarised opinion of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce at a meeting to-day. Several members who had been deputed to make special investigation and inquiries into the matter, reported that it was plain that the criticism had arisen only through the public being unaware'of the full facts.

A letter from the Auckland Chamber to Dunedin in reply to the letter from the latter mentioned that it appeared that the Postal Department did not appeal on behalf of its male employees called up for war service and had, since the beginning of the war. released 5500 men all of whom had been replaced either by boys or women, who had a good deal to learn. In addition to this the Department had had a number of extra tasks imposed upon it, such as collection of national security levy, rationing of foodstuffs and oil, and censorship. It was understood that no further curtailment of services than those already operating was contemplated, and in view of the circumstances the existing restrictions seemed fully justified. Certain minor difficulties encountered by the business community had been brought to the notice of the Department which had immediately remedied them, and the chamber was now conveying to its members certain suggestions as to how thev might co-operate in facilitating postal work.