UPROARIOUS PROTESTS

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 490, 20 October 1928, Page 6

UPROARIOUS PROTESTS

BUCKLAND RESENTS POST OFFICE SHIFT CHIEF POSTMASTER HECKLED (From Our Ovm CorrespondentJ PUKEKOHE, Friday. Strong exception to the action of the Poet and Telegraph Department in removing the Buckland post office to another store, and to the methods employed, was expressed at a meeting of 130 residents called by the Buckland Welfare League this afternoon, and attended by the Chief Postmaster at Auckland, Mr. W. J. Gow. Mr. W. Bullock, president ot tne league, presided. The meeting proceeded at a merry twee and at time* a hostile attitude toV adopted toward the Chief Postmaster. Some brisk exchanges occurred between the two rival factions, and the postmasters remarks were frequently greeted with uproars. It was explained that the- post office had previously been conducted In a store owned by Mr. J. Milligan, who had disposed of his business to the National Trading Company as September 1. On August 30. postal employees arrived at the store and commenced removing the post office, but owing to the protest ot the postmaster and storekeeper, Mr. Milligan, work was suspended until later, when he received by mail official intimation that the post office would be removed as from August 31. Representations to the Auckland office proving of no avail, the work was proceeded with on August 30 and 31, and on September 1 the new office was opened on the eastern side of the railway line, in a new *»tore opened in a shed by a rival firm. INDIGNATION MEETING HELD On September 15, an indignation meeting was held by the league, and repeated representations were made to tho Chief Postmaster, Fostmaster(JeneraL Prime Minister, and member for Raglan. The Postmaster-General on September 28 advised that owing to the late postmaster, being found unsuitable for the position, the office had to be removed. When this was being undertaken some 50 addressed letters to Buckland residents were found to have been lying in the office undelivered for over a year. MENACE TO CHILDREN

The headmaster of the school. Mr. H. H. D. Wily, said the removal of the office created a menace as far as the school children were concerned, inasmuch as the 50 residing on the western side of the railway line, many of whom were very young, had to cross over a dangerous level-crossing, which had last year caused one death, while there were many narrow escapes. TO INSIST ON INQUIRY

*'l am going to Insist on an inquiry." said Mr. Wily. He contradicted the statement of the Chief Postmaster that two days' notice of removal had been given. Mr. Gow: 1 gave two days’ notice. I was afraid if I had given longer notice Mr. Milligan would have thrown up the responsibility. (Cries of “No.”) The action taken was with tho best of Intentions. Mr. WUy: Tho Prime Minister has said that the 50 letters were held bade by Mr. Milligan because the people were not dealing with him. Mr. Gow: I know nothing about that. The letters wtre found when the office was being removed. Some of them were dead letters, and with others many of the addresses could not now be found. Mr. WUy: Every communication to the league stressed tho fact that the post office wan removed on account of the 50 letters, and yet you admit nothing was known about them until they were found. (Prolonged applause.) Mr. Gow: That was not the reason. That business did not warrant the erection of an office was claimed by Mr. Gow. However, ho said, if the residents were prepared to contribute the department would consider the matter. Mr. J. Logan moved that the post office be reinstated in its former position. Mr. A. H. Whitehead seconded the motion. As an amendment Mr. N. Jamieson moved that the post office bo removed to the department's site. Thik was seconded by Mr. F. H. Rae. Upon the amendment being put an overwhelming majority voted for it. Some cross-talk ensued as to whether the amendment was in order, whereupon half the meeting left the hall in uproar, the motion being declared carried.