A COMPLAINT FROM HANMER SPRINGS

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21445, 10 April 1935, Page 17

A COMPLAINT FROM HANMER SPRINGS

TO TUB EDITOB Or TUB PRESS. Sir,—l notice that the PostmasterGeneral paid a brief visit to Hanmer Springs during the last week. Residents would be interested to know ■ 'hether the local Progress League approached him on the question of having installed an up-to-date telephone box for the benefit of those unfortunate individuals who are unable to maintain the cost of a private telephone. The present antiquated telephone is situated in a box in the main office, and every conversation carried oi in the box is overheard throughout the office, to the edification of anyone who may be standing at the public counter. Such a state of things should not be allowed to exist a moment longer than is necessary. Another matter which the Hanmer Springs Progress ,League could well take up, is the speeding up of the

motor service from Christchurch. Just recently a new car has been placed on the run, embodying all the latest improvements in comfort and design, yet this car takes four hours or longer for the trip from Christchurch to Hanmer Springs, a distance of 93 miles, which is an average speed of 23 miles an hour. When one considers that "The Press can be purchased in the streets of Dunedin at 11.45 a.m. daily, and yet the residents of Hanmer Springs have to wait until 1.30 p.m. before the arrival of the paper, which is approximately the time the first of the evening editions are published in Christchurch, it is apparent that there is room for great improvement in the motor service. Possibly the Transport Board regulations are to blame, in that the cars have to run to a time-table as laid down by the board, but, whatever the reason, it is obvious that here are two splendid opportunities for the Hanmer Springs Progress League to prove to the residents that the league is in existence for the benefit of Hanmer Springs as a whole, and not, as is freely stated locally, merely to boost up a few business interests in the village.—Yours, etc., AEMENTIERES. April 6, 1935.

"The toll facilities at Hanmer Springs are similar to those provided at other small offices," said Mr FW. Furby, chief ppstmaster, when this letter was shown to him. Mr Furby added that this was the first complaint from Hanmer Springs that had reached the department. Mr W. V. Mockett, of Mocketts Motors to whom this letter was also referred, said that the service to Hanmer Springs was run under the supervision and approval of the Transport Board, the regulations of which provided for a speed of not more than 30 miles an hour. Mr Mockett said that the company had been trying to solve the difficulty of slowness and delay, but so far was unable to do so without uneconomic measures. The service left Christchurch daily at 9.30 a.m., a time found most convenient for the average tourist. If the cars went straight through the service could be speeded up considerably, but as it was the cars had to wait at Culverden. to connect with the train service and pick up mails. The only solution was to have another car solely to take the mails and one or two passengers from Culverden to Hanmer Springs, but this would be uneconomic. The cars could leave the city later in the morning, and travel faster, but neither passengers nor mails would arrive at their destination any earlier.