tional transport secured during the year afforded much relief in this respect and also eased difficulty experienced in the transport of delivery postmen to various areas owing to crowded public transport and the increased number of postmen.
71. Greater efficiency in town collections was also achieved by the use of an additional van for this purpose. Collection from all New Territories posting boxes on Sundays and Holidays was also introduced as statistics revealed that the amount of correspondence being posted on these days had grown to a proportion which warranted such collections.
72. The survey on the mechanization of deliveries was concluded during the year and showed that mechanization could be introduced to advantage in some areas. A mechanized delivery was immediately in- troduced in the Pok Fu Lam district and further such deliveries will be introduced in the next financial year when additional transport approved for the purpose is received.
73. At one period of the year it was reported that letters were being stolen from private letter-boxes at the entrance to buildings in heavily populated districts after delivery. Delivery postmen were instrumental in effecting the arrest of three persons suspected of the stealing of the letters and prosecutions were made in each case and convictions obtained. With the aid of the Police full inquiries and investigations were made and no further complaints were received. It is however surprising how very little attention is paid by householders to ensure that they have secure and adequate letter boxes.
POSTING BOXES
74. With the erection of new multi-storey buildings and various types of housing estates there was a continued demand for more posting boxes and forty five additional boxes were installed during the year throughout the Colony. Plans for still further installations were put in hand.
TRANSPORT
75. There were only twenty one accidents, all of a minor nature, involving damage to Post Office vehicles during the year. In view of the fact that a total mileage of more than 252,000 miles was covered by the fleet, mainly in congested areas, the small number of minor accidents reflected great credit on the mail drivers.
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