POST OFFICE HOURS

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24907, 21 June 1946, Page 6

POST OFFICE HOURS

NEW ARRANGEMENT ANNOUNCED CLOSED SATURDAY, OPEN FRIDAY EVENING (P.A.) WELLINGTON, June 20. To conform wicn tne Hours nuw observed in most places by industrial undertakings, wholesale premises, trading banks, most shops and offices, and generally to provide greater convenience lor members of tne public under the new shopping hours, important changes have been decided on in the hours of public attendance at offices. The new arrangement will come into effect during the week commencing July. The Acting-Postmaster-General (the Hon. F. Jones) said the money order, Savings Bank, and accounting branches would be closed altogether on Saturdays, except in general at those places where the five-day week is’ not observed by the business community. Instead, Friday evening attendance for the transaction of all classes of post office business would be instituted.

The Minister said that on Saturdays the telegraph and postal counters at the four main centres would be open as usual, except that the postal counter would close at 11.30 a.m., instead of 12.30 p.m. as at present. In other cities and larger towns telegraph and postal counter attendance from 9 a.m. to 11.30 a.m. woiild be observed. At less important towns post office counters would not be open to the public on Saturdays, but the usual after facilities would be available for telegrams and tolls.

Letter Delivery on Saturdays Telephone exchanges, telegraoh operating rooms, and mail rooms would function as usual on Saturdays. Postmen’s deliveries (for letters only) would be performed. » At places where the business community did not observe Saturday morning closing, post office counters would be open for the transaction of all classes of business, but would close at 11.30 a.m. Such offices would not be open on Friday evenings. “This is, of course, only a broad line of the changed hours,” the Minister said. “It will be appreciated that circumstances vary considerably as between one place and another, and local conditions must necessarily play a part in determining the arrangements to be made at any particular place.” In each district publicity would be given locally to the new arrangements. Notices showing any changes in attendance would soon be on disnlay at ail post offices. Generally speakinc. rich an ges were proposed at small country offices not affected by the change in shopping hours.