CHIEF POST OFFICE

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLV, Issue 141, 19 May 1925, Page 6

CHIEF POST OFFICE

SECOND EDITION

PALMERSTON NORTH’S NEW STATUS. A WELCOME ANNOUNCEMENT. An announcement of great importance to Palmerston North v-as made by Mr A. T. Markman, secretary of the Post and Telegraph Department, during the course of his address at the Luncheon Club to-day, when he stated that it had been decided to make the Palmerston North Post Office a chief office. This intimation, which crowns

the long continued efforts of the mem her for the district (Mr J. A. Nash.

jVI.P.) und the many others interested, was received with sustained applause.

Immediately prior to imparting the news, and nearing the end of his address, -Mr Markman said he was fully aware that he was going to be asked why this was not made a chief post oftice. Some “pills” he knew were being prepared for him, and he observed Mr Nash taking notes. lie could inform them that the principal matter which was to bo brought under his notice had been settled to their satisfaction that the local post offio was to be made a chief office. Within tiie past few days, he added, the Postmaster-General had given the necessary authority. (Loud applause) and Nash, he thought, was “blown out.” (Laughter). There war, lenewed laughter as Mr Markman, with a snule. handed to Mr Nash, the sending of which he had delayed to deliver it personally, a letter advising of the decision. Palmerston North was in a happy geographical position, said Mr Markman, and could be mado the “father” of the smaller centres about it. The area to be covered by the new chief post office district would be from Manakiu in the south to Bulls, Greatford, Ruahine, Dannevirke and Pahiatua at other points on the outside edges of the district. • The new arrangement, he said, would greatly' facilitate matters for savings bank depositors in vnrious parts of the new district such as I’eilding, Dannevirke, Greatford; Pahiatua and Woodville, for they could secure their warrants quicker from Palmerston North in future than from Napier, Wellington, or \\ anganui as in the past. The alteration would involve a good deal of extra work, but. in Mr Dawson they bad a very capable postmaster who would give them the best possible 86 ll.'ll ad been found necessary, too, to make substantial additions to the Palmerston North Post Office at a cost of £12,000 to £15,000, an advance warranted by the expansion of the town. The additions to the building were estimated to meet the needs of the future for 15 to years at the present rate of growth. In proposing a vote of thanks to Air Markman for his address, Mr J. A. Nash, MP , admitted that "he had been completely blown out” by the announcement regarding the post office. lor a number of years, together with the other gentlemen interested, h. 3 had endeavoured to secure this reform by continually driving away at the Government and bringing the matter up in the House. He had been informed “that it could not possibly be done,” but the Postmaster-General and Mr Markman had realised for some time past what was due to Palmerston North in tills regard. The ne-v chief post office would serve a very largo rrea, but the principal thing ■ was that Palmerston North .was going to lie. a chief post office. “This is probably the first time that you have heard of such a move before it was imparted to you by your representative,” said Mr Nash to the meeting.