HEAVY MAILS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 20, 18 October 1918, Page 6

HEAVY MAILS

A THOUSAND TONS OF CHRISTMAS GIFTS.

There are probably more parcels, containing a groat deal of food, sweets, tobacco, etc., stored by the postal authorities in Wellington at the present time than all any other time in the history of the Dominion. A faint idea may perhaps be conveyed to the lay mind when it is stated that there are 1000 tons measurement of parcels for men at the front awaiting shipment in 'Wellington to-day, and the amount is increasing at a rate that is almost staggering. Whilst the authorities hope to get rid of 505 tons (measurement) this month nnd 500 tons next, there is still a possibility that there will not be space in Home-bound vessels leavisg withm the next week or' two to land all the parcels in time for delivery by Christmas. That, of course, cannot be helped. The steamers leaving are few in number, and every inch of space is wanted for the carriage of foodstuffs, so that if the postal authorities get rid of 1000 tone within the next month, they will be doing well. A visit to the General Post Office, showed in a'marked manner the strain that is put upon the Department during the final quarter of the year, owing to the rush of Christmas parcel traffic for the soldiers. For the most part the parcels are packed in eolid white pine boxes. 19in. x 19in by 36in.. made at the Post Office workshop, really tho best form of packing, as the parcels are packed closely so that there is no play within the libx forthe goods to knock'themselves about. When it is stated- that such boxes are arriving in "Wellington." from the other centres at the rate of about 180 a day some idea can be grasped of the magnitude of the Christmas parcel post now awaiting shipment. Space for storing them alone has been a problem during the paet week or two. There are great stacks of them in the cellars and corridors of the basements of both the oM and new G.P.O. buildings; there are stacks of boxes and' mounds of huge misshapen bags in the letter-carriers' branch on the first floor; there are a hundred cases stacked in the old Drillshed (in Maginnity Street); 250 cases in the P.O. motor garage; and another 250 cases in the cheese store on the wharf. . > There is no way of computing the value of this vast aggregation of parcels for the brave boys at the front; but, supposing that there is the equivalent of 2000 cases altogether, and that the contents of each bo worth £10 (that at the least), the value of the parcels in store at present would be £20,000.