POST OFFICE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 5, Issue 8, 26 January 1942, Page 5

POST OFFICE

CURTAILMENT OF SERVICES

LOSS OF MANPOWER

"Over 5000 experienced officers will have been lost to the P'oest Office when the men now being called up report for service with the Armed Forces," said the Postmaster-Gen-eral (the Hon. P. C. Webb). "The strain imposed on the Department in releasing officers has grown from month to month and has now become so heavy that it is no longer possible to carry on without some ■curtailment in a number of postal, telegraph and telephone services." The principal alterations outlined by the Minister, which, except as otherwise stated, Avill become effective on Mioinilay, the 2nd February, were as follows: —

Public counters, both postal and telegraph, at many offices will be opened later and closed earlier each day. Post Office Savings-banks will no longer open on Friday evenings for the acceptance of deposits. Press telegram services are to be modified. Telegrams (other than urgent) for offices closing at 5 p.m. must be lodged not later thai? 4 p.m. tio ensure delivery on day of lodgment. Luncheon and tea intervals, are to be introduced in the larger telegraph operating rooms, during which only urgent traffic will be dealt with. Luncheon intervals are to be introduced also at certain of the smaller post offices, where staff economies will thereby be effected.

Commencing on the Ist April next, the provision for monthly telephone