OVERSEAS MAILS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 120, 7 February 1918, Page 4

OVERSEAS MAILS

CLOSING TIMES ANNOUNCED ! FROM TO-DAY. A week ago the Postmaster-General (Sir Josepb Ward) stated that it was, the intention of the Government to resume notifying the public of the closing times of overseas mails. This step has been decided upon after very serious consideration, and after it had heea ascertained that such information was now being given to the Australian public. The Secretary of the Post and Telegraph Department (Mr. .W. It. Morris) stated yesterday that the Minister had sanctioned the giving effect to his Auckland statement, and yesterday all post offices were advised that they could announce the closing times of all overseas mails in the ordinary way, except that no names of steamers or information as to routes were to be published. This virtually means «i resumption of mail notice information as it was before the war, except that the steamers' names are to be withheld.

The news will be received with satisfaction by the commercial community, who have been sadly harassed over mail matters by having either to work in the dark, so to speak, or ascertain ns best they could when a vessel was leaving New Zealand _ for the place they were interested in. For some time past tho post offices of Australia have announced the closing times _ of mails for Europe, England, America, India, Manila, and South Africa, whilst such 'information has been withheld hore, -though it is understood in business circles that both countries are acting under similar instructions from the Imperial authorities. The withholding of the information has meant that tho Post Office staffs have been considerably worried with inquiries abqut the closing of mails from morning till night, day in and out. That burden will be dispensed with ns from tofday.