RE HELENSVILLE POST OFFICE.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 12 June 1912, Page 3

RE HELENSVILLE POST OFFICE.

TO THE EDITQB,

Dear Sir,—ln reply to Mr LaRoche, who comments on my apparent want of knowledge of the fact that Mr McLeod signed the petition requesting that the Post Office be erected on the present site, etc., I would like to point out to Mr Laßoche, that my criticism as to Mr McLeod, concerned the absence of any action by him on the occasion of Sir Joseph Ward's visit. Mr McLeod's signature amongst 130 others may or may not have conveyed something. (Personally, I have long since given up attaching much importance to petitions.)

I am, and always have been, perfectly aware that Mr Laßoche worked, and. worked hard in connection with this matter, but I think that Mr Laßoche will admit that others worked also, and that a few words from Mr McLeod in his usually ably manner

-;—ahem!—in support of this particular petition would have proved very acceptable to Mr Laßoche at that time, but those few words were conspicuous by their absence, and that is nearly the whole point of this particular argument. As to Mr McLeod's subsequent actions as Chairman of the Tow.i Board, I must remind Mr Laßoche that Mr McLeod was out of the Terminus Hotel within six months (or thereabouts) of his election to the Board, and that, Mr Editor, is the balance of the argument. At the opening of the Helensville Technical School recently, a good deal of credit was given to our late member, Mr John Stallworthy, for the material assistance rendered by him in connection with that proposition : and if everybody had their due in reference to the Post Office, Mr Stallworthy would be found well to the front with it also. I agree with Mr Laßoche that great difficulty was experienced in getting the grant expended, and, as a matter of fact, the people of Helensville have really to thank the Hon. Thos. Mackenzie for the final straightening out of the matter, and through his assistance a start was made with the Post Office in August, 1910, just two years and five months after the presentation of Mr LaRoche's petition on Sir Joseph Wards previously mentioned visit. Now, had Mr McLeod come to Mr . Laßochc's .assistance on March, 1908,wh0 knows, we might have had our Post Office two years earlier —and then again, we might not. Yours faithfully, J. REA.