The Bay of Plenty Times FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 1946. RURAL MAIL SERVICES

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXXV, Issue 14210, 8 November 1946, Page 2

The Bay of Plenty Times FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 1946. RURAL MAIL SERVICES

Another of the difficulties with which many of the people living in the rural areas in this district who, by their labours contribute so much to the wealth of the nation, still have to contend was brought to notice at a sitting in Tauranga this week of the Transport Licensing Authority, at which applications involving tlie delivery of mails in these areas were heard. The attitude which was adopted by the Authority is a commendable one and it will be the general wish that some official notice will be taken of the view expressed by it that the settlers in the areas concerned were deserving of a daily mail service. The Authority appeared to quite emphatic about this point but, of course, so'long as the policy of the Post and Telegraph Department remains as it is at the present time its hands are more or less tied. However, it would seem that some notice should be taken of any recommendation the" Authority as such has to make, and in this case it is to be sincerely hoped that this will be the case. Under the present policy of the department these areas are not entitled to such a service. The policy, we say, is wrong ancl it would seem that there is every, justification for seeking a revision of it so that the neople in these districts can secure that which their contribution to the economic welfare of the country generally justly entitles them to have. Apparently the basis on which the department works provides that there must be three houses to every mile on the route before it will grant authority for a daily service. In evidence given to the Authority it was disclosed that in this case these requirements were almost reached, and in view of this it does seem that the settlers concerned have a good case for asking for the service. It is realised, of course, that some of these rural* mail services cannot pay for themselves, but we hold that this is something which the department can very-well afford to stand. As the Transport Licensing Authority pointed out, the good services should assist in keeping those that do not pav in operation. It would be very hard to believe that the Post and Telegraph Department could not afford to run a daily service to Ohatiiti and Oropi. So far as the Bay of Plenty Times can recollect, it is as far back as about 1933 that the settlers in the Ohauiti district first began making representations for a rural mail delivery and it has not yet succeeded in getting one of any kind. It is to be hoped that their efforts will at last be rewarded and that they will get a daily service. Everything possible that can be done to make the lot of the settlers in the rural areas a little happier should be done, and this is one way in which this can be achieved.