FITZROY POST OFFICE.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 April 1916, Page 5

FITZROY POST OFFICE.

FURTHER QUIBBLING. In connection with the strong proteete against tile closing of the Ktzroy poet office, Mr. H. J. Okey, M.P., who AM been in further communication with the Postmaster-General on the subject, hie received a reply which states: "I see the Daily News makes a great point of the variety and volume of duties performed by the late postmaster." (Here follows a tabulated statement of the bulk of the work done in the office). The letter adds: "That is to say, Mr. Taylor issued a money-order and took a savingsbank deposit "rather of tener than once la two. days. He paid a moneyorder and mado a bureau connection less frequently than once in two days. He paid a savings-bank withdrawal about once in seven day*, received a bureau communication about once in eleven days, and in postal note* issued, telegrams forwarded, and tele* grams received, could not make up mi hour's work a day, deliveries You must acknowledge there is noth* ing in this to justify any extravagant payment."

We have no means of ascertaining what particular period the figures given in the above reply cover, or whether they accurately represent a year's work or not, but that is quite beside the question. The post office has to be open during the usual office hours with a competent attendant in charge, so that the contention that the average business done could not make up an hour a day is nothing but a specious argument, having no bearing on the question of payment of remuneration. It is necessary to provide and pay an attendant, as well as provide for the delivery of telegrams. It the SPostmaster-Qeneral could so arrange matters that all the business could be got through In one particular hour of the day there would be some sense in his contention, but he ig quite aware that such a course would be impossible, being quite as unreasonable'as it would be to expect that the officer who is advising Sir Joseph Ward on this matter might be expected to do the work for the sum the Department, ia offering, or that h 0 would consider. £7O a year "extravagant" for providing the post office itself and the necessary staff •wherewith to carry on the business to the satisfaction of the public and the Department. The fact that no one can he found to undertake the business on the Department's terms completely disposes of the "extravagant" remuneration. For the sake of a few poundi the residents of Fitssroy are being deprived of a post office, merely as the result of red tape obstinacy. The position is one that for the credit of the Government should be rectified wi.thout further 4*»