Routeing of Files.

Hourly throughout the day envelopes are opened and the contents date stamped. Correspondence dealing with staff affairs and commercial rates and events department, after being perused by the Record Clerk, is handed to assistants who are experts in the activities of these two departments. Their attention is drawn to important and urgent memoranda, and directions are given as to disposal. These are dealt with immediately, and in the space on the date stamp they are marked off to the Head of the Department concerned for further necessary action.

An hourly delivery of files and a similar collection of signed correspondence for despatch are made throughout the day; in fact there is a continuous movement, inwards and outwards, in order of urgency.

Ninety-nine per cent, of daily inward correspondence is routed by Records on the date of receipt. All correspondence to any one addressee is placed in pigeon-holes and despatched prior to train or steamer departure times. A District Traffic Manager opening his special Departmental envelope each morning or evening receives therein communications from General Manager, Commercial Manager, Law Officer, Publicity Manager, Chief Engineer, Chief Accountant, Locomotive Superintendent, or Controller of Stores.