POST OFFICE BUILDING

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 173, 23 June 1936, Page 2

POST OFFICE BUILDING

EXTENSIVE ADDITIONS. SAVINGS BANK FACILITIES. Advice was received yesterday by the Chief Postmaster at Palmerston North (Mr D. Black) that the Public Works Department had been given authority to proceed with extensive additions to the Post Office which will more than double the present accommodation ior the money order and savings bank branch.

There were a number of factors which had to be given consideration in investigating schemes of improvement. The present plan was only adopted after it was determined that the present accommodation could be substantially enlarged without placing any restrictions in the way of future development, or affecting the stability of the first floor, on which is situated the heavy automatic exchange equipment.

. Under the plans approved, the whole of the larger room, which occupies a large space at the end of the savings bank seel ion, will be utilised to provide additional space for the public, with the exception of the section required fer new counters and the accountant's room. There will be seven tellers’ boxes, instead of the three provided at present, and the counters will be equipped with the verylatest type of grille. In the western face of the Post Office a new entrance is to be provided from the Square, so that it will no longer bo necessary for the public to enter at the corner under the clock tower and, when their business is completed, return through two swing doors. This more direct access will be a very- noticeable improvement and, with the extra facilities being provided, should bring to an end the congestion and delays experienced on busy- days. Both from the point of view of the public and the staff the improvements will give great satisfaction, and should meet requirements lor some years to come. During the alterations, which it may be possible to commence within two months, it will be necessary to transfer the money order and savings bank branch to temporary premises. Instead of occupying valuable frontage space, (he ledger room will l>e placed directly facing the street, and running back into the large mallroom. where there is ample room to permit of a subdividing partition. The space available for the ledger room will he doubled without interfering with the working of other Post Office departments. This will involve the demolition of the present main strongroom and the building of another one where the storeroom is now located: A dividing wall will have to be pulled down, and a passage will be eliminated.

•Meanwhile, the counter line where the tellers have been working under hampering conditions, will he moved back eighteen inches to give the public more space. The toll telephone cabinets just inside the main entrance to the building will be moved further in, occupying the space which will be left vacant ,by the removal of the accountant’s room to the far end. Another improvement, which is now in. progress, is the concreting of the Post Office yard.