FULL FACTS OF THE CASE

Southland Times, Issue 24242, 27 September 1940, Page 4

FULL FACTS OF THE CASE

Night Clearance Of Posting Boxes REPORT TO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Reporting to the Invercargill Chamber of Commerce yesterday on his visit to Wellington, where he interviewed the Director-General of the Post and Telegraph Department (Mr J. G. Young) on the question of the reinstatement of the evening mail clearance in Invercargill, Mr W. Grieve said that a full explanation of the department’s view placed a different complexion on the matter. He considered now that there was a good measure of justice in the department’s view.

“It is not only a question of petrol, but also of man-power,” said Mr Grieve. The loss of officers from the department had run into thousands and every day Mr Young received requests for experienced men fox- special jobs. The mail clearing services had been curtailed throughout New Zealand, and while it did not affect all centres to the same degree, both New Plymouth and Gisborne, being outlying centres, were in somewhat the same position as Invercargill. Realizing, however, that Invercargill was affected to a greater extent than any other centre, the Direc-tor-General said he had authorized a tram mail collection service. This had not been done in any other place. Mr Young admitted, said Mr Grieve, that this measure was only a stop-gap. When the suggestion that mail boxes be placed on tram routes had been mentioned to the Director-General, he said that such a suggestion had not been placed before him previously and he would give it consideration. MR DENHAM’S STATEMENT “Knowing all these facts, I was very sorry to see the published statement of Mr W. M. C. Denham,” said Mr Grieve. “Mr Denham must have had the full facts from the Minister oi' the DirectorGeneral.” Mr Grieve said he thought that had the chamber been in possession of the full facts it would not have made the demands that it did.

Mr Young had said that if an increased grant of petrol were allowed, the reinstatement of the night clearing service would receive consideration. He added that it should be borne in mind that the difficulties were not only caused by a petrol shortage, but also by a shortage of staff. Because of this latter fact the department was trying to have the amount of mail posted in the evenings reduced. Referring to the statement made on the subject by Mr Denham, Mr C. B. Tapley said he did not like to see the casual reference to domestic mail in the statement. With 770 men shortly going into territorial camp, domestic mail would be of greater importance in the future.

The chairman (Mr H. F. Drewe): You cannot prohibit any man from speaking his point of view,' even if you don’t agree with it. The chamber thanked Mr Grieve for his report, and decided to write to the Director-General stating that it was hoped that favourable consideration would be given to the suggestion that posting boxes be placed along the tram routes. It was also decided to thank Mr Young for placing the full facts before the chamber’s representative.