THE C.P.O.!

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 127, 1 June 1942, Page 4

THE C.P.0.!

QUEUES AND CROWDS

WARTIME MELTING POT

More than ever, in these war days, the post office has become the melt-ing-pot of a multitude of human interests. Gradually it has assumed a unique place in the community as the point of contact between the people and officialdom. No longer do mails and telegrams compose the largest part of its work.

A bustling, important air has been given the Chief Post Office for a long time by strings of National Savings banners, and later of Bomber Bonds and Liberty Bonds. And underneath these persuasive invitations to the war effort, people surge in ceaseless activity.

In addition to the selling of bond 3 and savings certificates, ration books have for some time been issued in a big bare room somewhere in the depths of the post office. This activity still goes on, since people who have changed their addresses have to register the names of their new grocers.

During the past month there has been the annual form-filling festival. The peak has been reached during the past few days, as the eleventh hour for the payment of social security and finalising income tax returns has approached.

Shortage of staff naturally does not help these constant demands on the post office, and crowds and queues are unavoidable nowadays. Even the steps and the area just in front, where a Liberty Bond booth is set up, bear a constant flock of people, like birds, poised expectantly or tripping busily up and down.

Queues and Officials There is an extraordinarily human story somewhere in this surging together of people and officialdom. A story of contrast between the patient queues on one side, and the busy, pen-driving civil servants on the other. Of ordinary men and women in front of the counter, and bureaucracy behind, stretching awav through numerous departments filled with clicking typewriters and pigeon holes. A story of precious shillings entrusted to national savings accounts, of Liberty Bonds ,tucked away in shabby waistcoat pockets and pretty handbags alike.

There is another story of contrast in the careful filling up of forms, the laborious working out of sums by the "man in the street," while the vast organisation behind swallows all with impersonal efficiency.

One might call this story "Document for Living," for it is these forms that are tne people's passport to civilian existence. They file each individual away in his own special pigeon hole in the community. The money he pays is his tithe to civilisation.

Any time during the past few day,? a detached onlooker would have felt he was caught in a veritable centre of human activity. Crowds streaming in and out, queues at every counter.

L<ast-niinute Rush People are seen bending over papers in the desk cubicles, looking for the right counter with a worried air, mothers with children trailing behind them, friends waiting on the steps, people at the front of queues talking earnestly to the men at the counter, heads bent to one side, the rest of the world forgotten as their own problems are discussed and advice sought. The onlooker might also ponder on the psychology which causes people to postpone their duties to the last minute, resulting in a frantic rush. It is pointed out that if they made their payments early they would avoid the annoyance and delay 9f long queues. But human nature, it seems, must put off duty doing as long as possible, even though queues are the result. And now the sorely tried post office is to have another rush period next month, when the motor vehicle relicensing will take place. However since it is expected that fewer motorists will rellcense their cars owing to tyre and petrol shortage, the rush will probably not be so heavy as normally. Nevertheless, there will be extra work involved, and a special staff will have to be put on.

K is always one thing after another at the post office these dayg!