Feilding Post Office Activity

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 24, 29 January 1937, Page 3

Feilding Post Office Activity

INCREASING BUSINESS REVEALED Comparative statistics dealing with the business of tho Feilding Post and Telegraph Office over the past 12 months wero released yesterday by the postmaster, Mr. J. B. Purcell. These figures reveal substantial increases in the volume of business handled when compared with the figures for the year 1935. In regard to the average daily posting of letters and postcards, the numbers reached surprising figures, being 2365 for every day in 1936 against 2228 daily in 1935.

The average daily postings of circulars, packets and newspapers also showed a sharp trend upward, the 1936 figures being 1524, comjmrcd to 1448 daily in tho previous year. Postings of parcels followed suit very strongly, rising from a daily average of nine in 1935 to an average of 26 in the 12 months just passed. In the telegraph branch the work increased tremendously during tho 12 mouths under review. Tho number of telegrams handled in 1935 was 36,557, this figure rising to 39,820 in 1935, an increase of 3263. Telephone business was likewise the source of considerable accretion to the Post Office revenue, local subscribers in December, 1935, numbering SSO, while in December, 1936, tho total had climbed to 914, an increase of 34. Outward toll calls showed a large increase of 16,641 from 112,533 in 1935 to 129,174 in 1936, this in itself being a unit of the total which bespeaks returning prosperity. The greater use of the radio iu Feilding homes is shown by the fact that in 1935 there wero 981 licenses issued by the Feilding Post Office, while last year the number advanced to 1203. Iu the field of motor vehielo registration the same story of expansion jvas revealed, licenses for all classes of vehicles issued in 1935 numbering 1813 but iu 1936 au additional 109 licenses brought the total to 1922. Regarding those who handled the large volume of extra business, it is hardly necessary to add that their time was more than fully occupied and that additional help was entailed. In December, 1935, Mr. Purcell had in his chargo 39 employees, but iu December, 1936, the swelling volume of inward and outward business had necessitated an increase iu tho staff to 44, the latter figure setting the seal on the claim that Feilding is a growing community.