RECORD CHRISTMAS POSTINGS LIKELY THIS YEAR

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 16, Issue 27, 1 December 1950, Page 5

RECORD CHRISTMAS POSTINGS LIKELY THIS YEAR

With the rapid growth of population in Whakatane, and the availability of more worthwhile goods than in the past, it is expected that during the coming Christmas period, postings will again eclipse previous records. Even in normal times the facilities and available space in the Whakatane Post Office are insufficient for the handling of day to day mail, and congestion is much worse at Christmas Last Christmas, postings of cards, packets and parcels exceeded all records and 1334 mail bags were handled at the Whakatane Post Office. Some of these contained more than 1000 articles. Post Office staffs cheerfully work very long hours, in some places all night through but, in spite of this, thousands of parcels and other Christmas mail still arrives after Christmas too late for the general festivities because of late posting. Gifts arriving after Christmas often reach an empty house and the traditional Christmas enthusiasm can never be recreated for a gift which arrives late. Awkwardly shaped, or fragile toys which have to be sent to children miles away and intended to delight the favourite niece, often arrive in a condition which only breaks the poor child’s heart. How frequently do friends rush in at the last minute, buy a pretty cup, saucer and plate, hurry them into a carton with a bit of packing and rush them off to some friend who opens the parcel to find the cup broken. Of course she doesn’t say it arrived smashed but acknowledges the , gift and says that it was lovely, but at heart she is furious because it was poorly packed and arrived as a complete write-off. It was just what she wanted too, if it had been whole.

Remember that parcels on which a fragile fee is paid are not guaranteed against breakage. The only obligation on the Post Office is to send fragile parcels in a hamper. The Post Office does this but in the process of transport, hampers are handled by Post Office men, Road Service drivers, railway porters and guards, general carriers, wharf labourers and others. All of these men may not be as careful as they could be, especially at busy times,' and none of them know what the parcels contain. Unless your, parcel is so well packed that you could drop it and stand on it without causing damage, it is not well enough packed to guarantee safe arrival at the end of its journey.

Shops are full of gifts of good quality and excellent variety and most shops are now dressing their windows for Christmas.

The slogan for the coming Christmas season should be: Shop Early Shop Sensibly Pack well and Post Early.