POSTING POINTS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 19998, 25 July 1939, Page 2

POSTING POINTS

HELPING THE MAIL-ROOM CO -OP ER ATI 0 N SOU GUT One of the most effective methods of helping mail-room staffs at the larger post offices is for firms dispatching large quantities of letters, invoices and accounts to make bundles, preferably of about 50 letters a bach, with the addresses “faced up.” Facilities are provided to receive these bundle's. In Wellington, for instance, two officers are stationed at the posting-boxes between 5 and 5.30 p.m. to take them direct to the mail-room. Before letters can be sorted, they must all be “faced up” in preparaion for cancelling of stamps, this latter being done in the larger offices by fast-running machines. It is sometimes noticed that stamps are not placed at the top right-hand corner, and such letters have to be put aside for hand cancellation.

Another factor which may delay the handling of letters, is that when window' •'envelopes tire 'used, the addresses sometimes are written so lightly in pencil that they cannot be plainly read through the- transparency. Again there is delay end the opportunity for closer examination of these letters may not arrive until after the mail has been dispatched. Co-operation of Large Firms

Still another practical suggestion to help mail-room staff's is that wlhere automatic gumming machines are used to seal envelopes care should be taken to avoid letters sticking together. This is sometimes the cause of letters reaching the stamping machines unlaced, and addresses are sometimes obliterated as a result. Official acknowledgment is made of the helpful co-operation, of many large firms throughout New Zealand who post their correspondence in bundles. At Dunedin upwards of GO office juniors bring correspondence for posting in attache eases and in bags to tiho ( Po.st Office. Approximately 4500 to GOOO letters' are received daily in this way.

Auckland business people co-oper-ate with the mail-room staff to the extent of posting approximately 15,000 letters and 20,000 accounts in bundles every day. The figure relating to accounts is, of course, variable according to the time of the month. In Christchurch the position has net been so satisfactory. In Wellington about 20,000 letters and accounts are posted in bundles daily, another good indication of public co-operation ;to facilitate the rapid handling of five mails. At busy mail closing times a real difficulty ~is created for the post office by the practice of business firms posting accounts mixed witli letters for which they desire to make a late mail connection. It would assM greatly if accounts were held for posting in between times. This refers to posting boxes; bundles are welcomed over the counter at any time.