MAIL CLOSING HOURS AT DUNEDIN

Southland Times, Issue 24882, 23 October 1942, Page 6

MAIL CLOSING HOURS AT DUNEDIN

Complaints about the early closing hours of mail for Invercargill posted at Dunedin were referred to at a meeting of the council of the Invercargill Chamber of Commerce yesterday. The president (Mr J. N. Armour) said it was alleged that mail for Invercargill sent by the express train leaving Dunedin at 4.40 P-m. closed at 1 p.m.. three and a(half hours before the departure of the train. Mail dispatched by the night goods train leaving Dunedin at 9 p.m. closed at 4 p.m., five hours before the departure of the train. These closing hours caused considerable delay in the delivery of mail. The chief postmaster (Mr J. Lindsay) said he had taken up the matter of closing hours with the chief postmaster at Dunedin (Mr Hugh Miller), who had assured him that closing hours could not be deferred any later because of staff difficulties. Every reasonable provision had been made. One difficulty was that much mail was posted in street boxes and suburban post offices. Late fee posting was available at later hours. It was decided to ask the Dunedin Chamber to inquire into the position.