FLORAL MAIL DELIVERY.

Shannon News, 9 January 1925, Page 3

FLORAL MAIL DELIVERY.

The question qi the rural mail delivery tp Makerua was nrougnt toiwuru. My tne president ol the chamber oi Commerce at,the meeting last evening. He sa.id it fiud been nrougm luiuer tne notice. 'Of. the Chamber of commerce that t.hu new service was nut satisfactory tq< a large number of the settlers.. It had been suggested that Uie agitation had been brought about in the interests, of an individual, but as a Chamber tbey would not fur. iher the interests Qf any individual, me policy of the Chamber is to go jmo matters as they affected the settlers. Mr B.iflens., representing the new contractors, tlie Manawatu Daily Times Co., and the settlers, would put their case, and then the Chamber could decide what action to take.

Mr Best, who was the only interested settler present, on behalf of the other settlers., stated their main grievance was the time the delivery reached them. He pointed, out that under the new arrangement' a letter posted in Wellington on Monday would not be delivered until Wednesday and a letter posted oh Monday morning at Makerua for Shannon would not be delivered until Tuesday morning owing to .being taken to iPalmerston N. and {not (reaching Shannon until 4 p.m. on day of posting, thus being too late tq be delivered that day. In replying to Mr Billens he said he thought those on the delivery would be prepared to pay £1 each fo>n. a daily service.

Mr .Kmes, postmaster at Shannon, pointed out that £1 was the lee lor a daily service. He stated that all rural delivery mails posted on Saturday were delivered on Monday and furnished particulars showing the loss to the department on this, run, stating that a private firm would wipe it cut. This' run had been in existence for many years and the Department did not wish to deprive them of the delivery and the tender received was the only one, and specified the hour for delivery. Mr Billens stated that a statement on the question had appeared in. that day's '"Dominion" which was. entirely unfair' to his company. He. said ne did not know who was. the instigator, but the. lacts were entirely wrong. He said when tenders were called they Had put. in a tender for tJhis run, also other runs along their, paper route. In respect to this one they received advice that their tender was the only out 1 and that unless, they oauld reduce it by 25. per cent., the run would be cancelled. After consideration they decided to take it at the reduction, fhoy hud had a good deal of experience with this kind of delivery, and he was of opinion that the service concerned would not cost them much more to run daily. 'Mr Murray contended it was not fair to settlers, to ibe tied to a paper deii\ei v to secure their mail.

'i ne Mayor; The only thing lett is for the settlers to pay £! per year and have a daily service. Mr Billens: 'The matter at present appears to be one between, the Manawatu Times and. Dominion. In reply to Mr Murray, Air Best, stated no advice had been received that the timetable was to be altered. Mr lliwaites. said a letter going-to pjilmerston North would be received there 12 hours before one could reach Shannon.

Mr Hyde said they must not lose sight of the fact that the. delivery was not a payable one. The Department may cut it out, so they would Abe. well advised to be careful what, they did. lie thought the Chamber should combine vvith the settlers and try and get a dailv service which would be >ot' greater benefit than a tr,i-weekly. ' Mr Best said they would, be only too pleased if the Chamber could do something. Mr Billens said the Daily Times would guarantee to carry out a daily service if three-quarters of the settlers will pay £lper year each. Mr Best said he would give it a go. Proposed 'by Mr Hyde, seconded by Mr Andrew, that the Chamber request Mr Best to canvass the settlers, with the object of.getting the required number to pay £1 per year with a view to securing a daily service.— This was carried. Mr Best thanked the Chamber for Ihe assistance they had given.