MAILS AND MOTORS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1690, 5 March 1913, Page 4

MAILS AND MOTORS.

EXIT THE HORSE. MODERN METHODS AT THE POST-OFFICE. In view of tho general use now being, mado of motor lorries for tho transference of bulk mails between the General Post Olfico and tho various trains and steamers, an inquiry was recently made at tho head office as to their utility and economy. The following reply lias been received:—

111 1908 this Department purchased an 18 hor»e-po\ver pneumatic-tyred motor van with tho object of ascertaining whether such vehicles could bo used economically and advantageously in making tho city mail deliveries and tho clearances of the pillar boxes and other receivers. This machine was specially built for the work, but after a trial of 15 .months, during which repeated breakdowns occurred, it was found that tho machine was unreliable, and that tho upkeep was excessive, and it was decided to proceed no further with tho experiment. However, further representations having been made to the Department, it was agreed to give a trial to a motor lorrv with solid tyres, and ono was purchased from the Albion Company in August, 1910. After au extended test this type of vehicle was found so successful that another was soon ordered, and since then tho use of these lorries has gradually increased. 111 view of the expeditious manner in which mails could ho conveyed to and from the railway stations and wharves with these vehicles, the Department lwcame convinced that a vastly improved servico could l>o obtained through adding further lorries to the existing number. l'Vom time to time there was very considerable troublo with both horses and drivers] and the Department was satisfied that an economy of both time and money would result from the adoption of the lorries. Additional lorries were added in 1911, and since then these lorries, together with motor bicycles, have gradually supplanted the H horses formerly in uso for the city mail deliveries. At present tliero aro six lorries in use in AVellington, and another is under order lo complete the numljer for present needs, for mail services. A lorry is being purchased for the use of tho stores branch in carting stores and material between the stores and wharves, etc., a:ul a second for use in telephone construction and maintenance work. AVhen this lorry is purchased tho last of the horses will bo disposed of, and tho whole of the carrying work in the Wellington offices will 1m performed by means of motor lorries!

Tho advantages of the motor lorries over the horses have been very marked. It often happened that mails arriving by the Main Trunk train had to bo hurriedly transferred to the various steamers railing to various plaoes in the south— Grey mouth,. Christchurch, Nelson, • etc. With horses, three vehicles would be required for the three vessels, but with the motor vehicles the mails for the three steamers can be delivered on the one trip.

. Some very limart work has also been donfl in conveying the mails from the south steamers 'to the express trains, the mails being sometimes placed on the train within eijjht minutes of their leaving the steamer side. A lorry can also make threo trips from the post 'office to the Thorndon station in a, little over one hour. Such times could never be attained with horsed vehicles.

The lorries at present in use have moved in the highest degree reliable. With them there has never been a single breakdown, and it is their reliability, combined with their speed, which renders them superior to the horsed veliiclts. Tlie promptitude with which the motor lorries, as compared with horse-drawn vehicles, can be called to the scene of action, is no mean factor in the usefulness of these machines.

Special reference'mlist'also be made to the chauffeurs, whoso caro of their lorries has contributed much,to tho success of the motors. Repairs are effected by the, chauffeurs in the garage, situated near the post and telegraph stores, on Waterloo Quay. 1