THE LOCAL TELEGRAPH OFFICE

Motueka Star, Volume IV, Issue 173, 17 April 1903, Page 3

THE LOCAL TELEGRAPH OFFICE

At the meeting of the Motueka Borough Council, held on Wednesday evening, the following letter from Mr A. Manoy was read : To His Worship the Mayor. ' Sir :—The question of keeping the local telegraph office open after five o’clock for the convenience of business people and the presidents generally, has been freely discussed since the Department decided not to re-open after five from the end of March. Owing to representations an extension has been granted for an additional month and I respectfully ask your Council, as the representative bo'dy of the district, to support the application for a continuance of the concession, which, however, would be of more benefit if the full hour, namely seven to eight o'clock, is granted. Cr Thorp said h« had much pleasure in supporting the request. The concession would undoubtedly be of great convenience to all, especially to those who wished to despatch and receive telegrams on business or personal matThe additional hour asked for would entail no great hardship on the officials some of whom had to bo in toe office to receive mails, etc. He would move, That this Council communicate with the Telegraph Department, strongly urging that the Motueka Telegraph office be kept open from seven to eight o’clock in the evenings. Cr Simpson seconded the motion.

The Mayor supported the proposal, as he thought a district of such growing importance, and practically the centre of the telephone service of the Bay, was entitled to more consideration in this respect than it had received in the past. The speaker mentioned that he had interviewed the Chief Postmaster of Nelson on the subject and that gentleman had referred the question to headquarters. Cr Ryder spoke in favor of the motion, and also advocated the opening of the office on Sunday evenings. The motion was carried unanimously.