Page 1 Advertisements Column 3

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 3, Issue 292, 7 April 1941, Page 1

NEW POST OFFICE NEGOTIATIONS FOR SITE HARBOUR BOARD APPROACHED The site apparently favoured by the Department for the new Whakatane Post Office is that area of Harbour Board reclaimed property at the end of the shopping area opposite the Rock. An official recently visited Whakatane and negotiated with the Harbour Board! for the purchase of that area. It was not, however, indicated definitely that the Department had finally decided upon this position) for the new building. That the price of the land was arranged and has been approved by the Harbour Board was stated by Mr J. W. Sumner, chairman, who added that the deal now awaits the confirmation of the Department. The inspecting officer gave every indication that the figure arraflged would be suitable to the Department. Reporting to the meeting of the Harbour Board held on Friday, the chairman stated that the Board had from the outset taken a neutral attitude regarding the decision on a site for the post office, leaving more interested parties to select a location which they considered convenient. In respect of the site selected the matter had been one decided upon solely by the Post and Telegraph Department. "It mattered not to the Board what site was seh/.ted, except that by having to sell the land we will be worse off," said Mr Sumner when making a statement to the BEACON. "The Board's policy has been to reclaim and lease land so that income would be derived and in the hope that eventually Harbour rates would be abolished. Through reclaiming land this rate has already been reduced from l%d to %ih While reducing the rate the Board has spent £8000 on wharves, £2000 on the launch and stop banks and groins have entailed the spend? ing of several more thousands of pounds," continued Mr Sumner. "To reclaim and sell land as the; Government desires would not be ajgood financial policy for the board, and when the Department suggested our land as a site we desired that the matter should go to Arbitration, but at the same time expressed willingness to meet the Department if it thought otherwise," added Mr Sumner, saying that the result was that the representative had visited Whakatane on Thursday, March 27 and a price had been settled upon. In reviewing the situation the chairman said that many years ago the area from where the Gentlemen's Club now stands to the old wharf was offered to the Government for a Post Office site if it reclaimed the land. The offer was refused and the board accomplished the reclamation and now the sites brought in an annual rental of £230. "With the rates of the borough added this land is an asset to the town, " said Mr Sumner, "which is better than if the Government had taken the site and did not pay' rates." WANTED KNOWN HAVE YOUR CAR LUBRICATED EACH MONTH AT ARMSTRONG'S GARAGE. Ladies! See the new Millinery at Bridgers' Limited. A range of styles copied from French models. Wear fashionable clothes again. Reduce figure to standard size with Bonkora. Visit F. G. Macklow, Chemist, Whakatane. HUGE STOCKS of Spring and Summer dress materials at Bridgers Limited. They cannot fail to please. VISIT our Furniture Shop and see the new Dining, Bedroom and Chesterfield Suites. Bridgers Limited. Banish fat the sale, natural way —with Bonkora. Contains no dangerous drugs. F. G. Macklow, Chemist, Whakatane.