HELP THE POSTMAN!

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 832, 30 July 1910, Page 4

HELP THE POSTMAN!

LETTER-BOXES IN FRONT DOORS.

A few weeks ago, in the courat, of o conversation wi.tii lUc Sicretary lor the l'ost and 'leiegrapn Department, a ■UOMiNiotf reporter ascertained tnat a time-saving movement was contemplated. ■I'ne proposal was one by which tm> unio oi letter-carriers could be saved by inducing people, botJi at tneir offices and homes, to provide their doors with let-ter-slots, so tnat the time wasted by a carrier in waiting lor an answer tu his, Knock might bo saved. Wellington, it is seated, is badly off in Uiis respect, and a 3 a result portions of almost bbij delivery are rendered abortive simply bocause the people are out, there is no letter-box or slot, and the regulations prohibit the currier from slipping tin: W'H-rs uitripr the door. Likewise on Wednesday afternoon, when most of the n>tau piacw arc closed, the carrier is put to great iruume m Having to carry back much of what ho took out. Recently the Department was considering if a 5 o clock city delivery of letters per the Main Trunk express would not be in the interests of the public, bul-it wus pointed out that many of the places closed at 5 p.m., and as there were only a' few letter-slots here and there, the attempt would not bo satisfactory. Here was a forward movement in postal progress checked by a lack of front-door letterslots. Now, however, the Department is making a strenuous endeavour to induce householders to provide themselves with this really necessary convenience, and nearly ever/ householder in Wellington has received a copy of a circular pointing out the need for apertures in the doors of their' premises, or letter-boxes, for the reception of correspondence. All that the Post Office requires in most cases is an aperture in the front door with a suitable cover. The occupier is advised to affix inside the door a wire box to hold correspondence passed through the slot; but this will not bo insisted on where the householder wishes to take the risk of loss arising thrniiL'h articles being dropped on the floor. Later on the carriers will submit to tlio householders samples of slof-plntos and receptacles, • and quote prices at which the same can be fitted. -This done householders will be asked to fill in a form and forward it to the Wellington office, when tho work will be undertaken at the lowest possible rate.