PAHIATUA DEPUTATION

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2124, 16 April 1914, Page 6

PAHIATUA DEPUTATION

VARIOUS REQUESTS

POSTAL.AND TELEPHONE FACILITIES. Tho member of a Pahiatua deputation, which was introduced to tho Hon. R. H. Rhodes (Postuiaster-Gonernl) yesterday by Mr. J. 11. Escott, M.P., laid heforo that Minister a request for tho erection of a post oflico at Pahiatua on a central site, in placo of tho present building, which stands at some distanco from tho centro of the town. Tho members of tho deputation were: Mr. D. 0. Crewo (Mayor of Pnhiatua), and , Mr. E. Baucko (prosidont of tho Pahiatua Progressive Association).

Mr. Baucko said that when tho present site was selected tho whole of tho country side was dense forest, known as .the Forty-mile Bush, with Pahiatua as its centro. The district had sinco then \leveloped to such an extent that last ;vear the valuo of its main products exceeded £300,000. Then thero wns no .telephone exchange; but now they had ! 200 subscribers, and expected to have a hundred raoro within twelvo months. Tho present building was altogether inadequate, besides which it- was twentyiivo chains from the business centro of itlic town. The whole matter had been threshed out at a public meeting, and it had been decided to leave it to tho Department to select one out of sevieral sites which had been suggested., Tho deputation asked that an officer of the Department should bo appointed fo examine tho .suggested sites and report thereon.

Tho 'Minister, in reply, said ho had looked into tho history of the present post office and found tljat the site was selected by the lato Mr. Seddou because it was tho only site that wns offered at

:i reasonable price after advertising. Ho found that tho postal business was increasing, and that the question of erecting a new" post office would soon have to be seriously considered. Ho asked the deputation to let him know the price at which a suitable quarteracre section could be acquired. Their representations would have his very careful consideration, but he could not pay more than tho section was actually worth, and he might find it necessary to advertise, as was done* in 1894. An officer of' the Department would be sent up to report as soon as the deputation supplied him with the necessary infor'mation as to the prices at which various sections could be obtained. '

The deputation also asked that the Government should allow settlers to place their own wires and insulators on the Government poles.' The difficulty in regard to secrecy could, ho said, bo got over by making the Government circuits metallic.

The Minister said he had had numerous applications from all parts of the Dominion to tho same effect, and if lie sanctioned it in this case he would havo to sanction it in all the others. Ho explained the difficulties in the way of granting such, a request, and promised to let the deputation know tno cost of erecting party lines. Ono of the difficulties was that the carrying' capacity'of tho poles had been reached, and extra wire accommodation would mean another sot of poles. To convert the earth-working circuits into metallic circuits throughout tho Dominion would cost, approximately, £630,000, but the work of converting circuits was going 'on as steadily as circumstances war'rantcd.

The deputation 1 -also asked that when a. new. post offino was built a tower and clock be erected.

The Minister said ho assumed that Some patriotio citizen would present a clock to the town. Mr. Bancko asked if the Government would contribute £ for £. The Minister stated that out of the money spent on tho erection of towers during the last few years ho could have fcuilt at least a dozen post offices.