The post office and its story an interesting account of the activities of a great government department

But almost everywhere in Great Britain the story is quite different: new post offices have to be created, old post offices have to be enlarged, and the importance of the postmaster increases. It is his own fault if he does not take a high position in the business circles of the town which he serves. The postmaster is in all matters of discipline given wide powers, but in questions relating to the business of his office, he has to be guided largely by rules and regulations and by instructions from headquarters. The reason for this is obvious, because in a big Department like the Post Office the first requirement is uniformity of practice, and it would never do for one way of dealing with a matter to be in force at Bristol, another at Liverpool, and yet another at London. But it is the same in the Post Office as in all other big undertakings; everything depends upon the quality of the man who holds the position, and the Head Office in London retains the right to control his actions. One man can be trusted with responsibilities, another requires leading strings, and the machinery of the Department is flexible enough to deal with both men according to their needs. I repeat myself when I draw attention to the close relationship which exists between the public and the Post Office. Indeed the story of the Post Office can best be told sometimes by letting the public speak for themselves. A large number of folk have probably very confused ideas of what the regular duties of a postmaster consist, but they know he is approachable: news and correspondence go through his hands, and in their eyes he has taken all knowledge for his province. In no other way can I explain the extraordinary applications for help and information which are constantly received by postmasters.