新西兰英语 714 New Zealand Post may cut mail deliveries

 　　NZPost is losing money so the company would like to cut mail deliveries from 6 days a week to 3 days a week.

　　NZPost is planning to put computers in some places, like supermarkets and petrol stations, so that people can post their own mail electronically.

　　In the last 10 years, the number of letters and parcels has dropped by 25%. This drop will continue in the future as more people use the internet for email, banking¹ and bill payments. Businesses often use the internet instead of posting accounts.

　　However, about 30% of New Zealanders do not have a computer connection. Some of these are elderly people; some are rural people.

　　The union for postal² workers said there will be job losses. At present NZPost employs 7,000 staff including 2,200 full-time³ posties.

　　NZPost is an SOE – State-Owned Enterprise. It is owned by the government so the government has to decide if there will be cuts to mail services. The Minister of Communications, Amy Adams, said she will listen to people who might have a problem with a 3-day a week postal service. Anyone can send a submission⁴, giving their opinion, to the Minister by March 12th.

　　Vocabulary

　　?the company (first sentence) – NZPost

　　?deliveries – letters and parcels are delivered to every house by a postie

　　?electronically – using a computer instead of a person

　　?bill payment – when you receive an account, you pay the bill

　　?account – a bill

　　?rural – people who live in the countryside not the city (opposite: urban)

　　?union of workers –is concerned about workers’ pay and conditions as well as job losses

　　?staff – workers in a company; (teachers in a school, nurses in a hospital)

　　?mail services – e.g. deliveries, selling stamps, sending letters

　　?communications – includes telephones, letters, internet

　　?submission – a formal letter to a Minister in Parliament, giving your opinion

1 banking   

n.银行业，银行学，金融业

参考例句：

• John is launching his son on a career in banking.约翰打算让儿子在银行界谋一个新职位。
• He possesses an extensive knowledge of banking.他具有广博的银行业务知识。

2 postal   

adj.邮政的，邮局的

参考例句：

• A postal network now covers the whole country.邮路遍及全国。
• Remember to use postal code.勿忘使用邮政编码。

3 full-time   

adj.满工作日的或工作周的，全时间的

参考例句：

• A full-time job may be too much for her.全天工作她恐怕吃不消。
• I don't know how she copes with looking after her family and doing a full-time job.既要照顾家庭又要全天工作，我不知道她是如何对付的。

4 submission   

n.服从，投降；温顺，谦虚；提出

参考例句：

• The defeated general showed his submission by giving up his sword.战败将军缴剑表示投降。
• No enemy can frighten us into submission.任何敌人的恐吓都不能使我们屈服。