PAEROA POST OFFICE.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4407, 28 April 1922, Page 3

PAEROA POST OFFICE.

NEW STRUCTURE WASTED. MINISTERIAL AID SOUGHT. The Paeroa Borough Council (Mr P. E. Brenan, Mayor) .submitted to the Minister of Public Works' (Hon J. G. Coates) a. request for a new post office at Paeroa; which plea was supported by the Chamber of Commerce (Mr E. W. Porritt, president). The Town Clerk (Mr P. C. Furley) read the following: POST OFFICE HOURS. Up to recently Qie Paeroa, post office has been open for the receipt of telegrams and other postal, business between 7 and 8 p.m. Unfbrtuinately this hour has now been withdrawn. We understand that the pos: office staff has not been leducsd in consequence and therefore it would appear no economy of expenditure has been effected compared with, when ■tlhe public had this facility, and we would strongly urge that t’ro former hours be reverted to, as a post office in a town of this size! open only from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. for" public business, and situated in an out-of-the-way locality, far removed from the business centre of t.he town, entails much hardship and inconvenience on the public. NEW STRUCTURE WANTED. While mentioning post office matters, this deputation would again urge that the new post office be erected without delay. Money has been on the Estimates for at least two years, for tliis purpose, but so far the new building has not been commtneed. As stated above, the post office is quite out of the town, and is a ramshackle building, quite inadequate for the business that is transacted there.

The people of this town have for a.-number of years pinned their faith on the long standing promise of our presert Government that a new post office in a more central position woiffi’ he erected, fiiil we feel that wc are well ivithin our rights in urging upon you an urgjf> request for its fruition.

The Minister replied that the average number of telegrams sent through offices of ' Paeroa status throughout New Zealand was 11/?,I 1 /?, per night, and therefore was probably net worth while keeping the staff on for that number. Even if the staff was no';, reduced, the the- fuel, arid the light were reduced. If the alteration was really an inconvenience, Yhen he was prepared to reconsider, the matter. The shortening of hours did mean ,a saving to the country. If it meant only prestige, then he would like the deputation to consider, his side—the .cost.- Paeroa’.; treatment was no different from what was meted out torother places. Regarding the new wost office, Mr Poland had brought the matter before him more than once. . The policy of the* Department was tp build only where it was payable to dp so. Paeroa was making pro gross, and required a good post of fice. But there .were questions, of metal reads, railways, drainage, etc., demanding money. So long as offices' could carry on, the people were being asked to wait a little longer. Paeroa office was on the, urgent list, and he was prepared to review the whole position and let the member for the district , know the results.