King Country Chronicle. Tuesday, February 9, 1937. THE POST OFFICE.

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXXI, Issue 4953, 9 February 1937, Page 4

King Country Chronicle. Tuesday, February 9, 1937. THE POST OFFICE.

It can be taken for granted that the plans for the new Post Office in Te Kuiti will soon be prepared, and residents will be awaiting with keen interest what is intended in this way. A rumour has gone forth that it is intended to retain the present building to accommodate some of the Government Departments. To those citizens who have any civic pride this will be a detriment to the town. The present building is nothing less than an eyesore, and it is to be sincerely hoped that there is no truth in this rumour. It is a valuable business site and can be made a payable asset to the Department. When the site was originally purchased it cost the Postal Department £350. In the opinion of the Valuation Department, if it can still justify its valuations, the site is now worth six times that amount, and can be leased for building purposes at a reasonable rental. If more accommodation is required for Departmental offices, it would be a better business proposition to add another storey to the Post Office for this purpose or build on the section facing Taupiri Street. This would serve the double purpose of removing the present eyesore from the main street, and provide a source of revenue for the Post and Telegraph Department. The Government should be looked upon to set the standard of building for a town, and to retain the present dilapidated building to house State Departments does no credit to the town or the Department concerned. It is to be sincerely hoped that the Postmaster-General will do justice to the town in this matter. If more accommodation is required for State Departments let it be on modern lines. The present Post Office has long passed its usefulness to house Government offices, and will have to be demolished within a decade. It seems only reasonable to suggest that while the work is being carried out, that the job should be done properly without resorting to patching and makeshift measures.