Two Postßanks to shut too

Press, 13 April 1989, Page 14

Two Postßanks to shut too

By

ROBYN BRISTOW

Postßank will withdraw its services from Oxford and Hanmer Springs. This follows an announcement earlier this week that New Zealand Post offices in the two townships will close in June and be replaced by agencies. Postßank’s Christchurch regional manager, Mr Dave Smith, said yesterday that as a result of New Zealand Post closing, Postßank would also close its doors. It would end its service on the same day the New Zealand Post offices were converted to agencies. “We are not looking for any other agency,’’ he said. Instead, alternative banking services such as direct crediting would be used. Postßank would be getting in touch with customers affected by the decision, Mr Smith said. Community leaders have ex-

presseed anger and surprise at the sudden announcements. Public meetings are expected to be organised and representatives asked on what grounds the offices have been closed. An Amuri County councillor, Cr Peter Ensor, of Hanmer Springs, said he was astounded. It was incomprehensible that the office was not economic. There were 1300 permanent residents, many of whom were retired. This population swelled to 7000 in the summer. He said that the Queen Mary Hospital catered for about 300 patients, many on short-term treatment who used the post office for welfare payments and many other transactions. Mr Ensor said the nearest Post Office would be Culverden, about 50km away, and he did not hold out much hope for its future the way things were happening. He said that this would mean that the nearest

post offices would be Kaikoura or Kaiapoi. The deputy chairman of the Oxford County Council, Mrs Janice Skurr, said her council would call a special meeting at 3 p.m. on Monday and get some action under way, including organising a public meeting. She also voiced her concern about closing on an economic basis. Oxford had a population in excess of 1900. Many people in the township were elderly people who did not have transport. If Postßank also decided to leave the town this would leave only the Bank of New Zealand which offered a service four hours a day on two days of the week. The member of Parliament for Rangiora, Mr Jim Gerard, said he would attend any meeting organised in the townships to help communities in any way he could to ensure they got a good deal.