Correction and apology

Press, 3 December 1987, Page 16

Correction and apology

An editorial article in “The Press” on Saturday attributed to the Mayor of Christchurch, Sir Hamish Hay, the suggestion that local authorities might find the money to keep open branch post offices that New Zealand Post intends to close.

remarks were not made by Sir Hamish. They were made by another United Council member, Cr Trevor Inch, the chairman of the Rangiora District Council. Sir Hamish says: “In no way do I believe that local authorities should become involved in keeping branch post offices open. “While I do not entirely agree with other sentiments in the editorial about the responsibility of local government to ratepayers, as I hold the view that our role in the social services field is inevitably increasing, I

would certainly be opposed to any involvement by local government in the provision of postal services, which is clearly a central government responsibility,” Sir Hamish says. The report on the United Council meeting also implied that the council had settled for a 15 per cent increase in levies. This, too, was incorrect. The forthcoming budget is still being discussed.

This was incorrect. The article was based on a report in "The Press” last Thursday quoting Sir Hamish as saying that taking over post office branches “would cost the ratepayer, but may be outweighed by necessity.” These

“The Press” regrets these errors and apologises to Sir Hamish and to the United Council.