A YEAR’S POSTAL WORK.

Government Blue-books, to an ordinary reader, are tedious and uninteresting enough; but even to the most ordinary of readers, the annual Report of the Postmaster-general is at once curious and interesting. Baron von Liebig once affirmed that the commercial prosperity of a country was to be gauged by the sale of chemicals. This may or may not be true; but we think the growth of the postal system in all its multifarious branches—the amount of the deposits in the savings-banks; the purchase of annuities and life policies; the amount of money transmitted by means of postal orders; the correspondence, growing by leaps and bounds, with all parts of the globe; the countless telegrams—those flashing messengers of joy and despair, good and ill—and last, but by no means least, the thousands of millions of letters annually delivered in the United Kingdom alone—all these are a sure index, not only of the commercial growth and prosperity of the nation, but also of the spread of education. A brief résumé of the Postmaster-general’s Report for the year ending March 31, 1886, may prove interesting to our readers.

The number of letters delivered in the United Kingdom alone reaches the astounding total of 1,403,547,900, this being an increase of 3.2 per cent., and giving an average to each person of 38.6. If we add to this the post-cards, book-packets, circulars, newspapers, and parcels transmitted by the postal authorities, we have a grand total of 2,091,183,822, an increase of 4.2 per cent.; and an average to each person of 57.5. Of this total, 84 per cent. were delivered in England and Wales (27.4 per cent. being delivered in the London postal district alone), 9.6 per cent. in Scotland, and 6.4 per cent. in Ireland. It will be at once seen that the necessary staff for the successful carrying out of such a colossal undertaking must be on a like scale; and this is the case, the total number of officers on the permanent staff being about 51,500, showing an increase during the past year of 3310. Of this small army 3456 are women. In addition to these there are, it is estimated, about 45,000 persons of private occupations, who are employed to assist in carrying on the operations of the department during a portion of the day. An increase of business brings a decrease in charge, this again inducing a fresh increase; thus, it has become possible to reduce the rate of postage on letters exceeding twelve ounces in weight, from one penny per ounce to a halfpenny per two ounces; a letter thus weighing fifteen ounces formerly cost 1s. 3d., whereas it can now be sent for 5d. The natural result is a large increase in the number of such letters.

We now come to the latest branch from the parent stem—the parcel post. It is highly satisfactory to learn that there has been an increase in the parcels carried of about three and a half millions, giving an increase in money of £84,000. In England and Wales, 22,198,000 parcels were despatched; in Scotland, 2,690,000; and in Ireland, 1,527,000. The list of provinces and countries to which parcels can be sent has also been enlarged. We learn that the first despatch of foreign and colonial parcels took place on the 1st of July 1885; and by the 1st of January 1886, arrangements had been completed for the interchange of parcels with twenty-seven different countries. The total number despatched up to the 31st of March was 71,900, and the number received, 40,800. The largest business was transacted with Germany, with which country in six months 46,000 parcels were exchanged. India shows a business at the rate of 36,000 parcels in the six months; and the smallest business recorded is one parcel in three months for the island of Tortola.

An amusing article might very well be written on postal curiosities, and the authorities might make a most interesting museum of the various articles committed to their care. This museum, we venture to suggest to the Postmaster-general, might be thrown open to the inspection of the public at a small fee, and might help to swell the receipts of the department. We read that at the commencement of the parcel post with Belgium, several cages of live birds were received; but the despatch of live birds being contraband, a veto was put upon the practice. On other occasions, a live pigeon, a live fowl, and no fewer than a hundred and fifty live frogs, passed through the postal hands; while such unpleasant, not to say aggressive, passengers as wild bees and snakes were transmitted in numbers apparently ‘too numerous to mention.’ In all these cases the contents of the parcels were detected and retained; but it is fair to assume that many other packages containing other curiosities passed through unchallenged. Among the contents of parcels received in the Returned Letter Office in Dublin, having been stopped as contraband, were two hens, eight mice, and two hedgehogs. One of the hens was an invalid, and in a bad state of health; and was addressed to a veterinary surgeon in London, whom, doubtless, she wished to consult. Every possible care was taken of the interesting invalid, but all efforts were unavailing;—she died in the office! Let us turn to the brighter side of the picture—the remaining hen, as also the mice and hedgehogs, were delivered to their owners ‘safe and sound in wind and limb.’ Possibly the moribund fowl was sent to the ‘Dead Letter’ Office.

A few amusing incidents which have occurred in the Returned Letter Office are given in the Report. They are so curious and few, that they but serve to whet our appetite. The number of returned letters, &c., received in the office was 12,822,067, an increase of 4.7 per cent. over the previous year. Of this number, 441,765 were hopelessly unreturnable, as many as 26,928 being posted without any address, and of the latter number, 1620 contained in cash and cheques the astonishing amount of £3733, 17s. 5d. This reveals a carelessness which is as extraordinary as it is culpable. Should any letter or package go astray, the department is invariably blamed, and the honesty of the letter-carriers impugned; but the following instance shows where the blame should sometimes be laid. ‘Complaint was made last year at Liverpool that a packet containing a bottle of wine and a box of figs had been duly posted, but not delivered. Upon further inquiry, the sender ascertained that the person to whom the packet was intrusted to post, had eaten the figs and drunk the wine.’ Again, the department was blamed because a certain letter addressed to ‘Mrs Jones, Newmarket, near Blyth,’ did not reach its destination. It appeared, however, that no less than twenty-nine ladies residing at that place, owned that interesting but by no means uncommon name, and the postal authorities were unable to decide which was the Mrs Jones. Another letter was received in Glasgow addressed as follows: ‘Mrs ——, 3 miles from where the cattle is sold on the Duke of Buccleugh’s ground.’

Two letters were alleged to be missing in Scotland. Inquiry was made at the address of the first letter, which, being registered, was undoubtedly delivered; when, after half an hour’s search, it was discovered amongst an accumulation of twelve months’ letters heaped upon a desk. The second letter was put into the box at the correct address; this box was cleared by a charwoman every Monday. Having failed to notice it one Monday, it lay till the following Monday. Another charge was more serious. A letter containing a cheque for a considerable sum of money and duly posted was missing; the postal authorities were accused of the theft. The charge was, however, cleared up, and the letter-carrier’s honesty vindicated in so strange a manner, that we quote the Report itself for authority. ‘It was ultimately found amongst the straw of a kennel, torn into fragments, but no pieces missing. The postman had duly delivered the letter, having, at the request of the addressee, pushed it with others under the front-door; and some puppies had carried it to the kennel and torn it.’ Moral—Do not be quick to accuse, lest thereby you condemn the innocent; and be careful to have a proper letter-box.

Perhaps, to the political economist, the most interesting portion of the Report is that which deals with the Post-office Savings-bank. It is highly satisfactory to learn that the business of this department shows a considerable increase during the year. The total amount due to depositors on the 31st of December was £47,697,838, an increase of £2,924,065 over the previous year. In addition to this, the balance of government stock held by depositors at the close of the year was £2,452,252; making the total amount due to depositors £50,150,090, this being distributed over 3,535,650 separate accounts. The greatest number of deposits made in one day was 48,568, on the 31st of January, amounting to £99,913; but the largest amount deposited in one day was on the 1st of January, and amounted to £124,843. The greatest number of withdrawals in one day, 20,835, amounting to £60,643, was on the 22d of December; but the largest amount, £66,981, was withdrawn on the 16th of December. The average amount of each deposit was £2, 6s. 5d.; of each withdrawal, £5, 15s. 10d. The number of accounts remaining open at the end of the year is thus divided:

Number.Prop. to Pop.Av. balance due to each depositor.
£s.d.
England and Wales3,272,7011to813108
Scotland127,1721to317126
Ireland135,7771to3617192

The life-insurance business shows an increase during the year of 109 in number, and of £13,003 in amount.