MANAWATU EVENING STANDARD AND POHANGINA GAZETTE. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 1901 OUR POST OFFICE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XL, Issue 7139, 1 November 1901, Page 2

MANAWATU EVENING STANDARD AND POHANGINA GAZETTE.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 1901 OUR POST OFFICE.

HUEANTEED LARGEST CIUCtJLATION IN THE DISTRICT.

We must confess that we were surprised to learn that the " departmental officers,1' whoever they may be, have reported to their chief that a new Post Office was not necessary at Palmerston North. This is what Sir Joseph Ward says. The "departmental officers" evidently possess a most peculiar notion of the requirements of an important centre like Palmerston North. Our Post Office is about twenty years behind its time, and instead of being up-to-date, as it should be, it is only fit for a small village. If the " departmental officers " would only step into the public office'on any clay in the week they would see savings bank, insurance, money order, postal, telegraphic, and old age pensions' transactions all being done at the one counterThe general run of people, and rightly so, do. not wish to have their private affairs thrust in the noses of everybody who may walk in to purchase a few stamps. However, that is the position. The Savings Bank and the Post Office departments should certainly be separated, and in any well-regulated Post Office this is so. Palmerston never has had a decent Post Office or onecomj mensurate with the large amount of business transacted, and we think, despite the opinion of the "departmental officers," that it is time we had. The Postmaster's room is simply a disgraceful makeshift and more suited for a dog's kennel than a ■"place for an official to perform a volume of important workin every day. The telegraph and postal work is done in the one room and the mail bags are opened and closed and the letters sorted withm a few feet of-the' operators receiving and despatching telegrams, yet the " departmental officers '> express their conviction that a new building is not necessary. We are glad that the Postmaster-General will shortly inspect the building himself, and we feel sure that when he does lie.will candidly acknowledge that a new Post Office is urgently needed here. If lie does not do so we must continue to agitate until •we get one which will be suitable to our requirements.