MILESTONE IN CITY’S PROGRESS

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 111, 4 February 1943, Page 3

MILESTONE IN CITY’S PROGRESS

New Lower Hutt Post Office OPENING CEREMONY HELD

YESTERDAY

New Zealands’ most up-to-date post office was formally opened by the Postmaster-General, Mr. Webb, in Lower Hutt City yesterday afternoon, and the transaction of public business began immediately, the old post oflice, about .100 yards to the south along High Street, closing its doors simultaneously. . "This is another milestone m the progress of the Hutt Valley,” said the mayor of Lower Hutt City, Mr. Andrews, at the opening ceremony. "When the old post, office across the road was opened 301 years ago, the population of the present city area was 3101. Today it is 28,000, and if the war does not interfere for too long, it is expected that by 1918 it will expand to 50,000.” , „ . ’ Mr. Andrews urged the PostmasterGeneral to complete the upper stories ot the new building to provide much-needed oflice accommodation in the city. "When he has done that,” Mr. Andrews continued, "I suggest he should tell the Minister in Charge of Police that we have got the most disgraceful police station in the whole Dominion. Mr. Andrews mentioned the tremendous rivalry that had at one time existed between the various population centres of the Hutt Valley, and made it clear that there was today a wonderful co-operation between the four local bodies in the area when anything to the advantage of the Hutt Valley was under consideration. “I can tell you that the Government is just as proud of this building as are the people of Lower Hutt,” said Mr. AV ebb. “It is my privilege to open in our youngest city the most up-to-date post oflice in New Zealand.” The words “post office” stood for an institution which had been built up on a basis of peace and goodwill. The Universal Postal Union in Switzerland governed the working of the Post Office in all countries, and its conferences had for many years been carried on in a spirit of harmony. It was a pity the League of Nations had not been blessed with similar success. An international league for the abolition for all war might well be modelled on the Universal Postal Union, Mr. AVebb mentioned that_the contract price of the building was £5.1.000. He announced that the Director-General of the Post Office, Mr. Young, had con-’ eluded arrangements with the Director of Defence Construction whereby the men and material for the early completion of the upper stories of the building would be made available. The greater part of the top story would be used by a Government, department, but the first floor would be for the use of private tenants. A letter from the Prime Minister and a cable from the member of Parliament for the district, -Air. Nash, were read by the mayor, as well as the mimes of many who sent apologies for absence. Mr. H. E. Combs, M.P., whose constituency runs contiguously with that of Mr. Nash, represented him at the ceremony.

Mr. AV. M. Angus, on behalf of the contractors, presented Nir. AVebb with a crystal decanter and set of glasses to match as a memento of the occasion.