WANT POST OFFICE

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 701, 28 June 1929, Page 11

WANT POST OFFICE

IN VICTORIA STREET WEST BIG PETITION SIGNED A petition has been presented to the chief postmaster at Auckland, Mr. J. J. Kearney, asking that a branch post office be opened in Victoria Street West. The site suggested by the petitioners is in the Manchester Unity Building, at the corner of Victoria and Hobson Streets, where there is space available. Although the petition was prepared rather hurriedly it was signed by representatives of 70 firms of note, more than 100 shopkeepers and a large number of residents. The firms included the Farmers’ Trading Company, Ltd., the Northern Boot Company, Collins, Ltd.. Booth McDonald, Thompson and Hills and W. Parkinson and Company. Mr. W. Parkinson and Mr. Hills, of Thompson and Hills, were the prime movers in arranging the petition. At present there are three post offices in the city, all, on the east side of Queen Street, —the Chief Post Office, the Wellesley Street office and the Shortland Street office. Residents, firms and shopkeepers to the west of the main thoroughfare are forced to go some distance to conduct their business. In some quarters it is felt that the Shortland Street office, which is only a few minutes’ walk from the Chief Post Office, might reasonably be closed and the staff transferred to another office which would serve a larger and wider public such a 6 those living in the area which surrounds Victoria Street. The suggested site in the Manchester Unity Building would accommodate a wide area and would include the business houses and shops in Albert Street, Federal Street, Hobson Street, Victoria Street West and all the intervening smaller streets. The petition has been signed by people and firms throughout the whole area extending as far out as Freeman’s Bay. Mr. W. Parkinson stated this morning that some years ago the people of this busy area were accommodated by a post office in the Strand Arcade, but when business increased there and the premises had to be extended the Wellesley Street office was opened and the Strand Arcade closed. The proposed office in the Manchester Unity Building could be opened at very little cost to the department and the business which would be forth coming immediately would soon defray the original expenses. No answer has been received from the chief postmaster, said Mr. Parkin son, and the request has not yet been made a political move, although Mr. W. Parry, M.P. for the district, has the subject in hand. In all probability, if nothing is done here, the petition will be presented to Parliament. An office in Victoria Street West would be a great convenience to many people and would save a considerable amount of time in going to the present post offices. To the westward of the area the only offices are at Ponsonbv on one side and Newton on the other.