POST OFFICE BUSINESS

Hokitika Guardian, 17 January 1922, Page 4

POST O FFICE BUSINESS

SOME FACTS AND FIGURES. j WORK IN WELLINGTON DISTRICT 1 FOR YEAR. j TWO MILLION LETTERS TASS. The estimated numbers of articles posted and delivered in tire Wellington postal district for the years 1920 and 1921 are as follows: Posted—l92o : 28,670,000 letters, 432,500 postcards, 9,503,300 packets and news, 833,800 parcels; 1921: 26,692,000 letters, 403,1)00 postcards 10,899,000 packets and news, 818,500 parcels. Delivered—l92o : 27,034,000 letters, 551,900 postcards, 8,733,900 packets and news, 541,400 parcels; 1921; 27486,000 letters, 516,300 postcards, 8,841,700 packets and news, 573,200 parcels. The figures for the whole Dominion are not available. 'ln September last the postage on circulars and other printed matter addressed merely “The Householder,” was fixed at a irate for each packet of )d for each 2oz. The value of this concession to the business community iB gradually being realised, andl the system is being more extensively availed of each month. INLAND PARCEL-POST RATES. Owing to the rates charged for parcels not being remunerative to the department, it was decided! in November last to slightly increase them) in respect of parcels over 61b. in weight, and for parcels that were light in weight yet bulky in size was decided to charge tho rate applicable to an 111 b parcel on all parcels under 111 b. in ! weight that exceed 4ft in length and girth combined, and to raise the “fragile” fee on such parcels from 6d to 9d. An exception, however has since been made in the case of parcels not exceeding l 1 inch in thickness, such parcels being charged the lllh rate, and the “fragile” fee of 9d only when they exceed 4ft in length and width combined. POSTAL UNION CHANGES. The postal’ changes made at the Madrid Congress -amo into operation on the Ist inst. The New Zealand post office did not avail itself of the right to increase its postage rates on mail matter addressed to other countries. The following were included in the amendments: (a) The fixing of the maximum weitrht for a letter at 2 kilos (41b. 60z.) awd the fixing of tho maximum, size of n letter at 18in. in any direction, or if in the form of a roll 3Din. in length and 4in‘, in diameter. Hitherto letters wore not subject to any restriction ns to weight: (b) automatic stamping machine impressions are recognised in the international service, nicy must he bright red in colour; (cl provision was made, subject, to certain conditions, for the use in the international service of envelope? with transparent panels. INLAND MATT/ SERVICE.

Contracts for the carriarre of inland mnifc? have been arranged for a further period from the *f this year. The majority of services let for n period of three rears, hut some tenders have bfeu accepted for one year only. DEPARTMENTAL MOTOR SERVICED

At the beginning of this year (1922) the department commenced the clearing of posting boxes and the delivery of parcels at Christchurch and Dunedin by menus of its own motor vehicles. These services wore previously performed hv contract. NIGHT LETTER TELEGRAMS.

The night letter telegram service, which commenced in November, 1920 has grown rapidly. The number of such telegrams is steadily increasing. The rate is half the ordinary rate, viz., a half-penny per word, with a, minimum of Is 6d.