Desks Monopolised

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 203, 16 November 1927, Page 9

Desks Monopolised

Letter-Writing in the Post Office PUBLIC INCONVENIENCED It is amazing - the number of people who do not stay at home to write their letters. The small desks at the General Post Office seem to be the favoured place where many Aucklanders attend to their correspondence. Here every day at any hour, one can see letter-writers at work, busily engaged in penning loving lines to someone or writing their business letters. The noise and the bustle of those around them is not a disturbing element. A bump from a passer by scarcely moves the writers, so keenly engrossed are they in their literary efforts. The desks which are used by these neople were not intended for writing letters. Though the Government has been asked for many things it has not yet seen its way to provide accomm. dation for those who wish to answer a letter the minute they have received one. And what is more, those desks were provided for the public only for writing out telegrams or for Ailing in official forms and memos. Though there are over 20 desks provided in the General Post Office, these are sometimes all engaged—principally by letter writers. Joe, with legs spread wide apart and firmly planted on thi floor, takes at least half an hour to pen the correct phrases which will send a loving response from his lady fair. Mr. Aristotle, with wrinkled brow, is plotting a business letter, which is not an affair of a few minutes. Miss Tootle is dashing off a note accepting a weekend invitation. She wastes the least time of anyone. Naturally Mr. and Mrs. Public sometimes complain if they have to wait until they can find a spare desk to fill in a telegram.

It is not the fault of the Post Office officials, who cannot tell people to write their letters elsewhere.