The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 8, Issue 1 (May 1, 1933)

Typical Wins Against Time

Typical Wins Against Time.

Here is a glimpse of the postal race against time:

The Royal Mail liner Rangitata (from England) in the stream, Wellington, at 10.30 a.m.; moored to the wharf at 12.15 p.m.; first sling of mail-bags landed at 12.35; first lorry-load of mail reaches the Post Office at 12.50; Auckland share of the letter mail catches the Main Trunk Express at 2 p.m.; letter mail for Wellington City sorted and delivered during the same afternoon. That looks a smart enough performance, but it is a bigger feat than the galloping summary indicates. The big ship was working other cargo while the mail was coming ashore. Motor vehicles buzzed about while the postal men were busy with their tasks. The Royal Mail had to make its way through thick traffic of commerce—and it did, nobly.

That is not an exceptional performance; it is merely typical of the postal service in lucky New Zealand.

Another example of quick handling occurs regularly with the trans-Pacific mails. A vessel from San Francisco will arrive at Wellington in the morning. Letters will be delivered in the city in time to enable business folk to post replies on the afternoon of the same day to connect with the ship which leaves Auckland for Vancouver. This remarkable result is facilitated by the employment of mail-agents on trans-Pacific liners. In addition to sorting the mail they are publicity representatives for New Zealand. They give bright lecturettes on the Dominion, from various viewpoints, particularly scenery and sport, and show moving pictures.

This fast working is not confined to inward mails. If a ship is timed to leave a New Zealand port at 3 p.m., the mail will close at the port only two hours ahead.