To the Editor of the Norri-Citya Day NEWS
Sim—It is of gratification to note from the letter of "A Heap" that the postal authorities are interested im efficiency and service.
It is claimed by "A Heap" that all classes of mail are dispatched to their destination by the first steamer to arrive thereat and not by the first vessel to depart therefor, from the beginning of the establishment of the service but even to this day we have superscribed mail. Why the superscriptions? Surely not for deferred Service? From mail notice of the Post Office for July 20 and 21, I extract the following dispatches of mail to Hongkong: for July 20 by s. Tsinan closing at 22.00 and for July 21 by s. President Jackson closing at 845. It is evident that the latter steamer will reach Hongkong a good two days ahead of the former.' What is the idea of dispatching any mail at all by s, Tsinan except because it is move convenient for the postal employees? Please do not try to tell me that it is due to printer's devil's error because 'I can name many other similar cases.
If mails for Yangtze ports ere forward by rail in part, it would not take four or five days for a letter to reach Kiukiang and nor would the dispatchment of mails destined for points along the Yangtze restricted to twice a day at 1400 and 21.00 since there are so many trains daily leaving for Nanking.
I have been to several sub post offices to mail newspapers of the size of two copies of the "Shun Pao" and I have not found any receptacle to receive same. I had to wait a long time to catch the clerk or mail car-Tiers attention and even then it is taken over with a grudge. "At the sub post office on the corner of Foochow and Szechuen Roads I asked the carrier to take my roll of newspaper and he crossly pointed to a distant corner of the big room where I found several rolls of paper lying. there (near cable address registration section) easily accessible to any coolie who may like to help himself to a few rolls, and coolies could use the paper not to say the stamps thereon For years there has existed a mail rush from 18.00 to 19.00 at the Bubbling Well Sub Office and the lone clerk has gallantly done his best, No Tesdjustment has been made. The Chung Hwa Book Ca. usualy have a couple hundred registered or express letters to go at this time and adds to the demand for service. If a mail carrier or even a postal coolie could be stationed to weigh mail matters and/or selling stamps it "would expedite the service considerably.
The public is not served in chronological order at all in the post office but the fault is with the public rather than with the postal workers. In any other country a line would be immediately, formed for orderly service but alas not in China. Yet the postal worker could discourage disorderly conduct by refusing to accede to those who demaùd extra fast.service over their fellow-men, instead of following ihe line of least resistance and yield to the impetuous ones.
I have no axe to grind nor a grudge to pay. My present tirade is made in the interest of better service from those who are proud and jealous of their good name.
"A Heap's" letter though mot accurate in many places nevertheless is informative and is appreciated. I think the public would be interested io know whether express letters both airmail and non airmail are accepted at the sub post offices until they closed for the day? If- not, then until what hour?
Pardon me if I appear contrary.
A Que Shanghai, July 21.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.