ENTHUSIASM

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 246, 6 December 1940, Page 5

ENTHUSIASM

WHAKATANE'S SURPRISE PACKET •COMMERCE CHAMBER DISCUSSES POST OFFICE SITE It might be just as well to spoiiit out to the curious that the lines of parkedt cars stretching from the Rock tow&rdsu the ■end, of Commerce Street—on. both sides of the road—did not •<lenote a Semple-ian address in Whakatane last night. The event which drew such a record attendance to the Borough Chambers was a meeting of the newfledged Chamber of" Commerce and if and enthusiastic rit evident , was any the future of the town's business interests looks bright, Mr W. Sullivan presided over 37 members, the items for discussion including the proposed New Year Carnival, the formation of a Retailers' Committee and the site for the new post office. Opening the meeting, Mr Sullivan expressed his pleasure at the wonderful attendance, The canvass for "members conducted by the 'Chamber since its last (and first) meeting had resulted in a roll of 113. "Of these 66 are financial, so we are fifty per cent .sound," said Mr Sullivan, who added, "If Ave maintain the interest so apparent to-night we may do some good." The New Year Carnival. Discussion on all points resulted in the formation of a committee to organise and control a New Year's 'Eve Carnival, the afternoon programme to cater for the juvenile section ,of the community and the evening to be devoted to the enter"tainment of the adults. This com'mittee will confer with Mr H. Tennent. Introducing the subject of ' the Retailers" Committee, Mr Sullivan said the proposal was to have a body representing the retailers, to look after their interests, discussing their affairs and problems more or less in .committee, and able to bring "forward recommendations to the 'Chamber." The committee formed comprised 'Messrs W, Briclger, G. Armstrong, R. Wilson, K. Price, E. Ramson, .T. .Dickson and 11. Sharpe. The Post Office Site. Major item on the agenda was the new post office site and the president set the ball rolling.

"The site for tlie new post office has been in the minds of the people for. a long time," he said. "About three y&ars ago the Hon- F. Jones, then Postmaster-General, visited Whakatane and a deputation from the Borough Council waited on him. He said then that construction on the new building would be underway in three months or six months time„ Nothing developed. Over the last few months there has been dis■cussipn on the site. I' understand that the Department is prepared to .spend £24",,000 or £25,000 on the job and the present site is probably not •.suitable."

Minister's Objection. 'Continuing, Mr Sullivan said he "would like'to see the new post office in the most central site, and that, to his mind, was that on which the Civic Buildings stand. Together with Mr Barry he had waited on the Postmaster-General, the Hon. P. C. "\Vebb, on the occasion of the visit to the town, :and lia*l suggested the Civic Buildings site as central and one that would meet the town's requirements for a long time. Tliq Minister's chief objection was that the acquisition. of the proposed site might prove costly. Mr Sullivan said he did not think that the acquisition of the Civic Buildings block would be more .costly than the site referred to in -a recently published communication from the Lands Purchase Officer, Public Works Department, to the Harbour Board. "Some 'may think that the present is not the time to.press for new structures,'* Mr Sullivan concluded, ''but if we do not we may be left out of the reckoning." Effect on Business* Mr Barry said that the welfare of the town was the paramount consideration. To put the post office on the suggested site near the Fire Station would tend to pull the business section of the town that way. It Avould mean that shops would be built on adjoining sections and the -{Continued at foot of next column)

business people at the eastern end would be the losers. Eventually empty shops would be seen in that quarter and nothing detracted more from a town's appearance than empty shops. The Civic Buildings site was the most suitable. Extending his remarks, Mr Baryy said that the suggested corner sec-t tion was at the extreme end of the town and was a site which would not be centrally situated, as far as the business section was concerned, for about twenty years. The Chamber should make strong representations to the Postmaster-General to have the work put in hand immediately. , . . And I think, it was more than three years ago that we were told it would be under way within a few months —more like , live years ....." • "No, three years," said Mr Sullivan. "It was just before the last elec ti'on." (Laughter). Resolution. Mr Barry said that the Hon. P. C. Webb had given him a definite assurance that the Borough Council, representing the citizens, would be given some voice in the choice of site. Mr Sullivan moved the following resolution: That this representative meeting of Wha- . katane; businessmen, after giving the mutter full considera-

tion, requests the PostmasterGeneral to procure the site known as the Civic 'Buildings'* together with the adjoining properties. This was seconded by. Mr J. Creeke and strong support was expressed by other speakers, the motion being carried unanimously. Mr Barry said he wouMt go further than that and moved a resolution to be forwarded to the Postmaster-General: That in view of the great progress of the town in recent years, of the large increase in postal business and the conditions under which the P. and T. staff is now working* the matter of the acquisition of the site recommended by the Chamber of Commerce; and the erection of the new post office promised some years ago be proceeded with immediately. This was earned.