CORRESPONDENCE.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 7, Issue 427, 19 November 1918, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

POSTAL DEPARTMENT'S CALLOUSNESS.

(To the Editor)

Sih,—l have waited a few days before writing this letter so that I can write calmly and temperately about the shocking behaviour of someone at the Pukekohe Post Office. A few days ago I rang up Auckland, and was fortunate enough to procure a nurse to catch the express. A little later in the day the Kev. Martin (who is on the same party wire) rang me up to say we were cut off because I had not sent in the half yearly subscription the day before. I would not have been welcme in the neighbours' houses to ring up the central, so I had to, at great inconvenience, go into Pukekohe to pay. I suppose I should be thankful I was not cut off a few minutes earlier, for had I been I have not the slightest doubt that my wife would never have rallied, except ur d *r more skilful hands than mine, from the state of collapse she was in when the express arrived Had I be™ given five minutos' notice I <ould have rung up Mr Roulston (or anyone near the Post Office) to pay for me. Having 1 ean going at high pressure for some time, I did not know either tho da'e or tho day of the month.

The action of the Post Office, I feel sure, was not due to brutality, but to stupidity. As Sir Joseph Ward remarked when the Postmaster at Helensville refused to break the regulations when the Elingamite was wrecked and a boat's crew that might have been found was never heard of again—" Anyone but a fool would break red tape when it was a question of life or dentil." It is almost unbelievable that in a time, the like of which New Zealand has nevor before evperienced, a Department (rather than wait a few hours for money) should cut off afflicted people from doctors, chemists, and clergy. Yours, etc., H H. D. WILY. Buck'aud, 19th Nov., 1918. PS. I would like to testify to the unfailing courtesy and attentiveness of the staff in the bureau at this time of stress. One, especially (judging from her voice, a girl), has gone to endless trouble to connect mejwith people I wished to speak to.