Post Office Programme Disturbs Chamber

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31159, 8 September 1966, Page 18

Post Office Programme Disturbs Chamber

A real danger existed that Christchurch could lose its present place in the Post Office national development programme, said the chairman of the postal committee of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce (Mr J. Stewart) in a report to the monthly meeting of the council last evening.

“We are almost back at the stage we were at in 1961, when the PostmasterGeneral (Mr Scott) agreed to receive a deputation from the chamber and the Canterbury Progress League and gave us the target date of 1969 for tenders for the Chief Post Office,” said Mr Stewart.

Mr Stewart said that by the time land was secured and building completed for the lines depot and the postal centre, and plans were made for the Chief Post Office, funds might not be available. Both the lines depot and the postal centre had to be completed before work could begin on stage one of the new Chief Post Office in Christchurch.

But at present said Mr Stewart the Post Office could not fix target dates for either of these projects. It was now planned to build the postal centre in Hereford street, opposite the Central Police Station, but the area available was not big enough. The department was negotiating for additional adjoining land, and plans for the centre could not be started till the additional land was secured. “The postal authorities are hopeful of an early settlement, but until a final decision is made planning is at a standstill.” said Mr Stewart. He said that in 1961 it had been planned to call for tenders for stage one of the new Chief Post Office in 1969, for completion in 1973. The postal committee recommended that an approach be made for a properly briefed group to meet the Minister (Mr Scott) at an early date, and certainly before the General Election, to convey the concern felt by the chamber about the delays in the re-

building of the Chief Post Office, and that other bodies such as the Canterbury Progress League be invited to join the chamber on the suggested deputation. It also recommended that the possibility of earlier sorting of mails into private boxes at the Chief Post Office, with completion by 8.30 a.m., be taken up with the Minister.

The recommendations were adopted unanimously. Mr J. M. Hargreaves said he considered the report from the postal committee most disturbing. It was essential

for the chamber to take strong action.

The president of the Canterbury Progress League (Mr G. R. Burrowes) said that the league “would be very glad to be included in any deputation.” The council approved another recommendation from the committee that further steps be taken to investigate the possibility of mail being taken from Wellington to Christchurch by way of Picton or Blenheim, so as to ensure earlier arrival in Christchurch.