RUSH AT POST OFFICE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 June 1940, Page 4

RUSH AT POST OFFICE

INCONVENIENCE TO PUBLIC. CONGESTION IN SAVINGS BANK BRANCH. Many complaints have been voiced in the past day or two about the inadequacy of the accommodation at the Masterton Post Office and of the arrangements to deal with the inevitable lastminute rush of applications for registration under the Social Security scheme. Yesterday, the somewhat restricted public lobby at the Savings Bank and Money Order branch of the Post Office was crowded out, so much so that some people had to wait as long as an hour and a half before they could be attended to. The position, it appears, is one that could be avoided by the public itself if it would only heed the advice of the Post Office authorities and make earlier’ application, instead of leaving it to the last minute. This failure of human nature, however, appears to be one that cannot be remedied and as a result, those who leave their Social Security registrations to the last day or two penalise people having legitimate savings bank and money order business to transact. It is unreasonable to expect people to be submitted to such an unwarranted delay through no fault of their own and in the view of some who were much annoyed with the arrangements, the Post Office should do something to remedy the position. It is recognised that the fact that motor registrations fall due at the same time as Social Security registrations causes the Post Office some embarrassment. A special staff is put on in the main lobby to deal with motor registrations and as these quarters are much more commodious little serious congestion is apparent there. It is recognised, too, that if the Social Security registrations could also be dealt with at the main lobby, the congestion in the savings bank and money order branch would immediately be relieved. On account of the motor registrations falling due at the same time it is not possible to transfer the Social Security business to the main lobby. To the man in the street it appears that if the authorities could alter the date of registration, if only for a month, of either motor or Social Security registrations the present difficulties would be largely overcome. If it is not possible to do this, it is imperative that other more drastic alterations should be made, but in so far as accommodation is concerned, it is not reasonable to expect the Postal Department to provide at all Post Offices throughout the Dominion maximum accommodation which is required only at rush periods. No complaint has been heard about the staff, which at all times has been courteous and cheerful, .in spite of the strain and long hours with which it has had to contend.