Post Office Decision Soon

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31774, 3 September 1968, Page 26

Post Office Decision Soon

(From Our Own Reporter) WELLINGTON, Sept. 2.

Broad proposals for the provision of new Post Office arrangements for Christchurch are expected to be known within six to eight weeks, and outlined by the Postmaster - General (Mr Scott) before the end of October. Mr Scott today replied to comments made last Wednesday at a meeting convened by the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce to discuss new postal facilities, and the state

of existing installations. The senior vice-president of the Canterbury Manufacturers Association (Mr J. D. Bull) de. scribed, at the meeting, the postal situation in Christchurch as “appalling," and Ct O C. Mitchell, of the Waimairi County Council, said the Chie ’ Post Office was “a disgrace, and a fire hazard amounting to a death-trap.” Mr Scott said today that the rebuilding of the Chief Post Office was only part of the problem. The proposals to be outlined would include a description of necessary preliminary action before the Chief Post Office itself could be re built. He wanted to make it clear that this would be a big project, and that he did not wish to mislead anyone into think-

ing it could be completed in a short time.

Meantime, Mr Scott said that the fact that the Chief Post Office was now inconvenient for both public and staff was accepted. The maximum possible had been done to improve conditions for both the public and the staff, having regard to health, light, and ventilation.

On the suggestion that the building was “a fire hazard amounting to a death-trap,” the Minister said that full firealarm coverage, providing automatic detection to the fire brigade 24 hours a day, had been installed. In addition, the system provided for alerting the public and the staff in an emergency. Fire breaks had been provided to prevent the spread

of fire, and adequate means of egress were available in all sections of the building in the event of emergency.

Special arrangements had been provided for controlled, quick, and safe evacuation of the building in emergencies and regular evacuation drill took place (as is customary in many large buildings, including Post Offices throughout New Zealand.) "The Chief Post Office accommodation is considered to compare favourably with other buildings of similar vintage in Christchurch as far as fire hazards are concerned,” Mr Scott said. “It fully meets the requirements of the Building Code, and the standards set by Ministry of Works fireprotection officers for all Government buildings.”