rains of 1959. Many inhabitants stated it gave them heart to see the postman arriving as usual.
70. A few cases of stealing letters from private letter boxes after delivery were brought to notice during the year and much good work was done by the police in arresting some of the persons responsible. It is still surprising, however, how very little attention is paid to instal- ling adequate boxes in blocks of flats etc. or in repairing those which are damaged.
POSTING BOXES
71. The erection of new multi-storey buildings and various types of housing estates called for the erection of a greater density of street posting boxes. Twenty seven additional boxes were installed during the year throughout the Colony and plans for other installations were put in hand.
TRANSPORT
72. There were only fourteen road accidents involving damage to Post Office vehicles during the year as compared with twenty one in the previous year. They were all of a minor nature and as more than 277,000 miles were covered by the fleet, mainly in congested areas, the absence of any serious accident reflected credit on the mail drivers.
ACCOMMODATION
73. Accommodation on the upper floors of the G.P.O. building, vacated during the year by the Treasury and Urban Services Depart- ment, made a major reorganization of the Parcel Branch possible. The Despatching Section was moved from the first to the second floor on 27th February, 1960. New lifts were installed or existing ones extended and parcels posted at the counter are now transported to the second floor by a direct lift for sortation and despatch. Transfer to the main despatching point is made by means of a new chute constructed for the purpose. The Delivery Section was moved from the ground floor to the first floor on 28th February, 1960. These changes made possible exten- sions to the counters which came into service on 21st March, 1960, A novel feature was introduced in handling parcels for delivery. Parcels awaiting collection are stacked on racks on the first floor and as soon as a delivery card is presented at the counter, the reference number is relayed to the first floor by a broadcast inter-communication system. The parcel is then moved by gravity chute to the delivery point. The main hall facing Pedder Street has been extended to provide more public space and counter positions for selling stamps. The system of
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