The post office and its story : $b an interesting account of the activities of a great government departmentBennett, Edward
History
The post office and its story : $b an interesting account of the activities of a great government department
Bennett, Edward
Postal service -- Great Britain -- History
One of the most amusing incidents of the kind was brought to light over
the payment of a Savings Bank warrant. The sub-postmaster was asked to
satisfy himself as to the depositor's identity “in view of the shaky
nature of her signature.” The sub-postmaster replied: “I have paid the
warrant. Depositor an old age pensioner, aged seventy-seven, well known
at this office. The shakiness of signature was pointed out to her, and
she explained that she was very excited that morning, having just put up
the banns. Marriage at the Old Church. Ceremony will be on May 15th.”
Of course there are abundant humours and tragedies revealed in the
inquiries made at the post office by would-be pensioners. What desperate
efforts will they not resort to for the purpose of proving their age
qualification! An applicant at Monaghan, when asked for some evidence of
age, replied, “I remember eating a fish which was blown out of Drumloo
Lake the night of the big wind, 6th Jan. 1839.”
And some persons seem to think that by the payment of the pension the
Post Office is under an obligation to see that it is spent properly. A
postmistress received this letter from the relative of a pensioner: “To
the Postmaster. Dear Madam, you are requested by order to chastise J——
M—— of B—— for drinking his pension on Saturday, an also on a few
occasions this month has been found drunk, an if you don't write to him
and give him a sharp advice I shall proceed against you without further
notice.”
In consequence of the removal of the pauper disqualification on the 1st
January 1911 the number of pensioners was greatly increased. A few can
scarcely realise that they have not to go through some ceremony before
they can be entitled. The lady pensioner perhaps feels what many of her
sisters do when being married at a registry office: they miss the
ceremony and the blessing of the Church. At one office in London an old
lady inquired earnestly if she had to be christened. “Because,” she
said, “I've never been, and if I must I'd like to go to the Rev. —— for
choice.”
And she looked woefully disappointed when she was informed that even in
her unregenerate state she was qualified for a pension.
The General Post Office through its offices also supplies local taxation
licences. If you seek to be the possessor of a dog, a gun, a male
servant, a carriage, a motor bicycle, or a motor car, you will obtain
the licence from the post office. There seems, indeed, no limit to the
possibilities of the local office as an agent for the distribution of
the good things which we expect in these days from reforming
Governments.
* * * * *
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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