POST AND TELEGRAPH DEPARTMENT

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 190, 1 May 1918, Page 4

POST AND TELEGRAPH DEPARTMENT

frCURTAILMENT OF SEItVICES NECESSARY. Sir Joseph Ward (Postmaster-General) made the following statement yesterday: —"The calling up of tho .Second Division for military service makes it necessary to curtail the services given by the Post and Telegraph Department to the public. Up to. tho present-the Department has given tho public the facilities it enjoyed before tho war, and although it has done so, in not a single case has an sippeal been lodged for the exemption from military service of any member of the First Division. In addition to releasing all men who volunteered and all called up by ballot, tho Department supplied a wireless troop, a. special telegraph section, and a special postal section, and the incn to rein« force these sections have been sent from time to time, so that at the present timo the Department has really sent more than its quota. A largo number of men of the Second Division has been called up by ballot, and if it is to releaso these "nien tho Department must curtail certain of its services. It is proposed at once to reduce tho hours during which the -spublic may tend Urograms or may expect letters to he delivered over the counter, or stamps to be 6old. From time to lime as Iho call for more men makes it necessary other curtailments will come into force, and it is proposed at the present time to mako these restrictions apply only to I has? offices where tho stnlV is depleted. It is not intended to bring about any restriction which -will not have for its object the release of men for military service, and it is felt that tho public will appreciate tho fad that Ihe curtailments aro necessary; aud will assist tho Department in every way possible. Tho exact ell'ect of the curtailment of the facilities enjoyed by tho public will bo advertised as Iho restrictions become necessary."