FINALITY IN SIGHT

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 70, Issue 138, 27 March 1950, Page 4

FINALITY IN SIGHT

RURAL MAILS IN COUNTY LETTER FROM POSTMASTERGENERAL The County Engineer, Mr R. ,1,. Lindsay, as secretary of the Ashburton rural mails committee, is in receipt of a communication from Mr. W. J. Broadfoot, Postmastei’-General, as follows: “Further to my letter of December 22, concerning the reorganisation of rural mail deliveries in the Ashburton County, I have to inform you that it is proposed to institute services over tne amended routes as soon as agreement has been reached concerning the payments to be made for the proposed services.” Proposals for reorganisation have been in train for a considerable time. In August, of last year a committee comprising Messrs 11. C. B. Withell, J. Davidson, M. S. Turton, R. L. Lindsay and the Postmaster (Mr A. F. Wells) was set up to take what steps were necessary to bring about a more complete coverage of the county. At the request of the committee, Messrs Turton and Lindsay interviewed Mr Hackett, then Postmaster-General, in Wellington, receiving from the Minister an assurance that he favoured complete coverage of the county, provided the cost of operating the scheme was reasonable.

In November the committee reported to the Minister that the proposed routes had been fully investigated, with the co-operation of post office officials. The report further stated that most of the prospective boxholders on the suggested reorganised routes were familiar with the proposals put forward, and were looking forward with confidence to the Ministry’s approval of the same and their being put into operation at an early date. Since that time the change of Government, and difficulties in the arranging of satisfactory contracts have retarded final settlement, hut the present Minister’s letter, quoted above, would make it appear that finality is now within reach.