Minister, Wharf Hall and Post Office At Hokitika

Greymouth Evening Star, 7 April 1948, Page 2

Minister, Wharf Hall and Post Office At Hokitika

Four days after he had announced that the scheme for the renewal of the dilapidated Hokitika Post had again to be deferred on account of the strained building resources of the country, the Postmaster-General, Mr F. Hackett, in his. capacity as the Minister of Marine, promised the Lyttelton waterside workers that he would do everything possible to see that tenders would shortly be called for the erection of a £60,000 to £70,000 recreation hall at the port. This statement was made at last evening’s meeting of the Westland District Progress League, when resentment was expressed at the Minister’s attitude.

Tracing the steps taken to replace the post bffice, the secretary, Mr J. Saunders, said that a site had been acquired in 1938—ten years ago—and £2OOO was voted by the Government towards the cost of the project the following year. The next year £5OOO was voted and in 194 T £32,000 was set aside. In 1945, he said, the late Mr O’Brien stated that the work was No. 1 job in the department, but in 1946 £40,000 was spent on a new post office for Kaikohe with a population of about 700 people. “The position is desperate,” said Mr Saunders, pointing out that'the Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, last November said that he could not believe that the Government’s own employees had to work in such shocking conditions. The chairman, Mr G. R. Harker, said that many new post offices could be seen in many small centres, while the 70-year-old building in Westland’s capital could not be replaced. “Empty Promises” “It seems that the assurances given by Ministers are just empty promises,” commented Mr P. C. Blank, who stressed the fact that the health of employees at the post office was being prejudiced by the present conditions. “I think we will have to send a weekly letter to the Prime Minister with a telegram thrown in now and again,” suggested the secretary.

Mr Blank said that as it would be at least three years before a new building could be completed and repairs were urgently required to the present building. Other members . suggested, however, that if this work was carried out, it would be harder to have work commenced on a new structure. It was decided to write to the Prime Minister asking him why the assurances given by himself 6nd other Ministers had not been honoured, and to point out that the Mayor of Hokitika was being requested to hold an “indignation” meeting to discuss the issue. Greymouth Police Station Later in the meeting a letter from the Prime Minister regarding the proposed new police station at Greymouth was read. This said that plans and specifications for the new building were in the course of preparation, but owing to the pressure of work in the Government architect’s office, it was not possible to indicate at present when they would be sufficiently advanced to enable tenders to be called for the erection of the building. “If so many building restrictions are being applied, why should there be such a delay ‘through pressure of work’ at the Government architect’s office?” asked Mr Blank, referring again to the Hokitika post office. “Things don’t ring true,” he added.