NEW MAIL SERVICE.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 December 1922, Page 5

NEW MAIL SERVICE.

BETTER CONNECTION WITH AUCKLAND. PROPOSAL CONSIDERED B 5 BUSINESS MEN. A proposal to inaugurate a new mail service to expedite the dispatch of correspondence between Taranaki and Auckland was contained in a letter read at the quarterly meeting of the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce last night from Mr. Wm. Archibald. The service proposed was by which would pick up a late mail at New’ Plymouth at 9.40 a.m., Inglewood at 10.40, Stratford at 11, and Eltham at 11.30, f arriving at Hawera at 12. There the mail would be sorted into one bag and taken on to Wanganui, and thence to Marton, where it would arrive at 5 p.m. in time to connect with the Main Trunk express for Auckland at 5.35. The service towards New Plymouth would leave Marton on the arrival of the train from Auckland at 8 a.m., and arrive at Hawera at noon, leaving that place again at 1 o’clock, .and. after stopping at Eltham. Stratford, and Inglewood, reach New Plymouth at 3 p.m. This would enable the mail to be delivered at about 3.30 instead of at 9 o’clock at night. Mr. Archibald said that his proposal had been favorably considered by the postmaster at New Plymouth, but had been turned down in Wellington, and he asked the chamber’s support. The chairman (Mr. T. C. List) said that the idea of a late mail was a good one, while if they could get an early mail in the afternoons it would certainly be of advantage to the' business community. The department might consider the expenditure unjustifiable at the present juncture, but it was a move in the right direction, apd he felt the chamber would he justified in according its support. Before they took any action, however, they should see the chief postmaster and ascertain what could he fl*,ne an 1 the grounds on which the proposal had been turned down. He thought Mr. Archibald was to be complimented upon this evidence of his enterprise. Mr. G. Fraser remarked that it would practically save a day, as a letter from Auckland could be replied to on the same day as it was received in New Plymouth, going away the next morn•ing.

Members were generally sympathetic to the idea, and on the motion of Mr. F. S. Johns, seconded by Mr. S. W. Shaw, who said the service would be of evengreater value to towns further down tlie line, the matter was referred to the council of the chamber for further inquiry and consideration.