'A LONG DELAY.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19726, 17 September 1929, Page 10

'A LONG DELAY.

HIGH STREET POST OFFICE. DEPUTATION TO MINISTER. The business people of High street have waited long and patiently for the new Port Office in that locality, and some time *go they believed that the undertaking would not be much longer deiaved, for the plans were practically completed. However, alterations to the design of the projected structure were decided upon as the result of the earthquake, and these are still 111 progress. I'efcberday a wry largedenutation which asked Uiat the work be expedited waited on the Hon. Mr Donald, Postmaster-General, at the government buildings. It was Introduced by Mr H. T. Armstrong M.P., who assured the Minister that all of those present did not intend mating speeches. The new _ rost Office, he said, was of very great importance to a larse section of the business community of Christchurch. It would be in the speaker's electorate, but so far he had refrained from holding that Mr Donald was responsible for all the delay. Mr E. J. Howard, M P. : We had a deputation to liini about it when yoti were awav in Australia. "For manv veara we have agitated for a better tost Office in High street," said Mr Armstrong, "and we have been put off with the argument that it was a waste of time to do anything to the present building when the Department was going to build something better. So for the Inst ten or fifteen vears the old Post Offire has not even had a coot of paint. The staff moved into temporary premises two years a<ro, but so far a start has not been made on the new build : ng. Th« temporary premises are by no means adequet* hut even if the building was commenced immediately we would still have to wr>it a considerable time for the new offices. The plan-; have been prepared, so the Department knows wftnt it wants." Mr H Jutsum aaid that the deputation could have been larger had all the business people in High street known about it. Mr Howard dealt with the q«iest<on from the angle of the unemployed. The building trade was very slack, he said, and this was a very necessary work. It had been approved, and would employ a considerable number of unskilled men. seeing them through the remainder of the winter. The structure on the property now was only a slum building and it was a disgrace to the City. The case for the new Post Office "had been made out, and it would ease the congestion on the central Post Office. Men employed in the building trade were of a type who could not go into the country, and if they were driven to do so, the City would suffer. He did not know whether the work waa on the new Public Works estimate* or not. Mir Armstrong said he had been informed that no provision waa being made for private boxes in the plans for the new Post Office, and the business people were much concerned about it. Mr Donald assured Mr Howard that he would like to put in hand the building of a number of post offices to ease the unemployment situation The plana of the High street Post Office were not quite complete, but ae soon ns they were tenders would be called. If the Department received • satisfactory one, work would be commenced at once. He had asked the Public Works Department to get on with the plana of the Post Office immediately "We look on everything affecting toe Post Office from the business standpoint," said Mr Donald. "The High street building is badly needed, and will be constructed with the greatest possible dispatch. I shall keep urging the Public Works Department to get it started, and shall inform Mr Armstrong of the programme. The Question of the boxes will be enquired into, and if they are needed they will be provided." Mr Armstrong, in thanking the Minister, said that if they could be of any assistance m stirring up th« Department, he would offer his and Mr Howard's help, Mr Donald (jocularly): It will be accepted.