The Post Master of the Port Macquarie post office, Mr. Hurrell, said on Thursday that the new office, in its uncompleted state, was catering for the holiday crowds far better than did its predecessor.

The volume of trading in the building over the holidays shows a considerable increase over the same period last year, Mr. Hurrell said.

The new office provides almost double the space of public area and the counter, 60 feet in length, is twice that of the counter in the old building.

Mr. Hurrell said the same number of staff was providing a vastly improved service to that in the old building.

There are presently 14 permanent staff at the office and a further ten are added during the peak holiday periods. The staff are pleased with the improved working conditions that the new building offers.

They now have a lunchroom and inside toilets. Mr. Hurrell pointed out that only half of the building was occupied by the post office at this stage.

He expected a further improvement in facilities for the public when the department took over the second stage from the contractors.

Some twenty per cent of the area of the building is taken up by the public area and counter with two entrances. The flooring in the public area of the building is unusual for a building of its type. Instead of the usual linoleum tiles, the new building features terrazzo-type flooring. The public phones are now found at the front of the post office.

Pink ladies

The first general meeting of the Port Macquarie Pink Ladies, held at the council chambers on Thursday night, was well attended. The president, Mrs. Pat Alcock, occupied the chair.

With a tentative membership of 57, the Pink Ladies will commence duty on Monday, February 9, 1970. Two Pink Ladies will be rostered for duty each Monday to Friday, from 10am to 3pm, throughout the year, except on Christmas Day and Good Friday.

A roster for two weeks will be published 10 days ahead. A nominal membership fee of 50 cents, was fixed to provide for petty cash, and the initial stocking of the trolley. This trolley will provide toilet items, note paper etc. for patients who require them.

The hospital board has provided one dozen attractive smocks, in a beaming shade of pink, which will be worn by the Pink Ladies when on duty. On hearing of the formation of the Pink Ladies at Port Macquarie, an anonymous admirer composed a prayer for the Pink Ladies, which was read at the meeting.

Shock for club patrons

Staff members of the R.S.L. Club at Port Macquarie "walked off the job" at a peak period on Saturday morning. Eighty were on the pay-roll at last pay, and a large number of them attended a stop-work meeting between the busy hours of 10 a.m. and 12 noon.

The secretary-manager, Mr, Harry Butler, and the assistant secretary, Tom Huddleston, along with committeemen "pulled" beer until the strikers returned to work. The dispute, the News understands, arose from holiday pay affecting one of the permanent men, and rostering.