NEW POST OFFICE

Evening Star, Issue 19518, 28 March 1927, Page 6

NEW POST OFFICE

ITS IMMEDIATE CONSTRUCTION URGED LARGE DEPUTATION TO PRIME MINISTER POSITION GOVERNED BY FINAN- ' CIAL SITUATION. About fifty gentlemen comprised a deputation which this morning waited upon the Prime Minister (Right Hon, J. G. Coates) to urge that the new Post Office for Dunedin should !bo commenced immediately. The bodies represented in the deputation were the Chamber of Commerce, Manufacturers’ Association, Otago . Expansion League, Employers’ Association, Retailers’ Association, Importers and Shippers’ Association, Merchants’ Association, Ironmasters’ Association, and the Dunedin City Council. The Minister of Public Works (Hon. K. S. Williams) was present with the Prime Minister. Mr T. K. Sidey; M.P., said the large and representative deputation was indicative of local feeling in connection with the Post Office questiqjv. In 191(3 the old Post Office was vacated, but it was not quite clear to those outside the department what was the real reason for that step. It could hardly have been that the building was not fit for occupation, because since then it had been used by other Government departments. In ordinary circumstances one might have expected that the Government would not have abandoned the old building until they were ready to put up a new one. One could only assume that it was because of the war conditions prevailing at the time that the new building was not proceeded with. While the war was raging the people of Dunedin could not reasonably urge for the prosecution of the new building, but once the war was over representations were made from time to time by local organisations, and local members of Parliament had urged in the House that the building should be commenced. It was in 1923, nearly six years ago, that a vote of £20,000 was placed on the Estimates, it being stated that this was on account of the new Post Office in Dunedin. The work was not started that year, and the vote was renewed the following year. The suggestion for the postponement of the building then came from the people of Dunedin. It was done_ in consideration of the fact that considerable claims for money were being made because of the building, of the Dental and Medical Schools, and also because of considerable claims in respect of the Exhibition. The Chamber of Commerce and other bodies wore willing that the University, buildings should take precedence, and it was pointed out that, while the Exhibition was building, a very large arnountjff labor would be absorbed there. It was also contended flint the building of the new Post Office after the Exhibition would absorb the labor that would then.be available, and prevent any possibility of unemployment following the Exhibition. It was fully and generally assumed that once the Exhibition was over the Post Office would bo gone on with. It was in May of last year that a qualified promise was made by the Right Hon. Mr Contes that the building would be commenced within the financial year. The citizens woqld not stick exactly to that, because in a very short time the new financial year would commence. It had been said that another reason for the postponement was on account of the increased expenditure on the Medical School building. It was true that the estimates for that building were exceeded, but lie wanted to say Hint the University Council .throughout acted with perfect good faith in tho matter, and was not in any way to be charged with a want of frankness ,ns lias boon done locally. He would like to say that, when the promise was made with regard to the commencement of the Medical School tho actual cost of the building was known to the departin nt. It was on March 7, six weeks before that, that tho tenders for the complete construction of the building were sent on to Hie department .in Wellington asking for its sanction. The speaker pointed out that the estimate of the cost of Hie Medical School, as furnished four years ago, taken in conjunction with the known cost of Hie shell of the building in February, 1924, was exceeded by approximately £13,000. On such a big building he felt sure that it could not be reasonably suggested that a difference of £13,000 could not be sufficient to make any serious modification in the proposed plans of the new Post Office. Speaking with regard to loan money, Mr Sidov said that, as the Prime Minister knew, there was a good deal of apprehension with respect to our trade balance. It might be that the Government proposed to curtail the amount of loan money, in view of the possible unfavorable market. Whatever money was available, however, the speaker submitted that, in cases where promises had been given, special or preferential consideration should weigh. In any case, we, at least, expected a fair share of whatever money was available. (Applause.) THE MAYOR’S REMARKS.

Tho Mayor (Mr 11. L. i’apioy, ALP.) said he thought the citizens seemed unnoccssaiily apprehensive in regard to the attitude of the Government with respect to the new Post Office. But, in view of the reply given to representations of tho Otago Expansion League last week by the Poscmastcr-Gtnoial (Hnn. Mr Nosworthy), it seemed io be indicated that the new Post Oliice would not be gone on with yet for certain reasons, some of which had been mentioned by Mr Sidey. One of them was the extra cost of tho Medical School. They submitted that the Medical School should not come into the Post Office question at all. (“Hear, hear.”) They claimed that the matter stood entirely on its own merits, and they felt that the Prime Minister would regard it in that way. They felt a little concerned about the repk of the Postmaster-General Deputations had met tho late Air Massey, the Hon. Downie Stewart, and the Hon. Mr Coates on the subj.ect, and in 1923 the late Mr Massey practically gave a promise that the new Post Office would be gone on with as soon as possible. In 1926 a deputation waited upon the Hon. Air Coates, who gave a qualified promise that the building would be commenced in 1926. Last year it had been suggested that the* old building should be pulled clown in order to provide work for the unemployed. The reply to that suggestion was that some change had been made in the plans, -and that it was intended to put up a six-story building, in order to house the Government departments at present spread all over the city. That seemed a very sound proposition, it was stated that, in view of the change, the plans would not be ready till December. The assurance was then given that the old building would bo pulled down in January. It was pointed cut that it would be economically unsound to pull down the building earlier because about 10,000 cubic feet of space would have to bo found at once for Government offices. The speaker had next asked that' the building should not bo pulled down till after the visit of the Duke of York, because we did not want an eyesore in tho centre of the city then. The Postmaster-General had said that the new building could • not be gone on with this financial year. But that did not matter if the building were commenced soon in the new financial year. In view of tho pro--1 raise made and the urgency of the 1 need, the speaker thought that the new building should bo gone on with right away. Tho cost of tho building would

bo spread over a few years. The deputation was representative of all classes of tho community, and be felt sure that tho Prime Minister would see that the promise made would bo kept, though it was a qualified promise, and that tho building would bo commenced immediately. (Applause.) FINANCIAL POSITION IMPROVING. Mr J. Taylor, vice-president of the Chamber of. Commerce, also spoke. He said that it was recognised that the trade balance was against qs by six and a-half millions, but it was believed that by the end of the present year the pendulum would swing the other way. Imports this year must be less on account of the surplus stocks now held as a result of tho excessive uuports last year and because of tho act.cn of _i[m banks in tightening up money. The exports of one year governed the exports of the preceding year. The situation was being helped by tlye improved spending power or the people of the Old Country, the same thing applying to the Continent of Europe. Advanced prices had been received at recent wool sales, and, owing to the competition among Continental buyers, the bulk of the offerings went there. With the rental that would be obtained from the Garrison Hall building and the fact that all the Government departments would be housed in the new building, it would probably be found that the new building would pay for itself. He trusted that instructions would be given to have the new Post Office commenced immediately. (Applause.) THE PRIME MINISTER’S REPLY. “I would like to congratulate the members of Parliament for Dunedin district for the excellent manner in which they can gather round them the most powerful and influential men, individually and combined, to help their cause,” said the Prime Minister, amid laughter. “ I would like to say,” continued Mr Contes, “ that I think the case has been well put, and that I have no intention of raising any point in opposition to any statement made. Roughly speaking, I think Mr Sidey and also Mr Tapley correctly traced the expenditure of public money concerning Dunedin itself. 1 have -never raised the question of over-expenditure, but have an admission of over-expendi-ture from Mr Sidey in one instance. (Laughter.) I shall not use it against him when, he has occasion, and I hope ho will, to criticise Government finance.

“ The position is just ns stated,” went on the Prime Minister. “We had intended to go on with the Dunedin Post Office in 1026-27—this financial year. . . . The Public Works Department has not been given any intimation with regard to suspension of operations. It went straight ahead with matters after the discussion of the matter hero last year. It went straight ahead with the preparing of plans and specifications and general arrangement precedent to calling for tenders. I understand from Mr M'Kenaio (Public Works Engineer) there has boon no intimation to tho contrary.

Mr M'lvcnzie: “No.” Tlie Prime Minister went on to say that as far as the Public Works Department was concerned the lion. Mr Williams had done Ids job. Ho thought they would all agree, however, that it was wise very carefully to scrutinise and consider a building of this description. He did not think, if they had tried, they tould have made any' further advance'than they had. But there was the other side of tlie question—a rather more serious one. He hoped it would he only temporary. The Minister of Finance was finding some difficulty in finding all the money the departments required. It was just a question of which works should be gone on with first. If by chance the Minister of Finance found some difficulty, he might have to ask them to consider a deferment of the Post Office. The position at tho moment was that ho had not definitely considered the matter. He thought matters would bo ready for consideration when they got bad; to Wellington this time. The question of what post offices and what buildings were to bo gone on with would engage their consideration. He appreciated all that had been said, but he did not think he could say much more. Ho 'know' of the premise, though it was thought wise at that time to put in a proviso. The plans were complete, but no doubt some rearrangement would bo made in such a building. Ho could not say more. If the money were available tho Post Office would be gone on with; if tho money were not available he would be perfectly frank and give tho reason, and tell them there would bo a postponement. For tho moment ho was unable to give them any more assuring promise than ho had conveyed. In thanking tho Prime Minister for receiving the deputation, Mr Skley said he was glad to learn that there had been no suspension of preparation on tho part of tho Public Works Department.