WORK WELL FORWARD

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 48, 25 January 1939, Page 8

WORK WELL FORWARD

POST OFFICE ADDITIONS. COMPLETION IN APRIL. With all the heavy structural work finished and the whole ot the roof no"' in position, the construction the large additions on the Main Street frontage to the Chief Post Office at Palmerston North is well advanced, and practically up to contract schedule, which provides for the completion of the work by the end ol April. . Immediately the building is finished, the Savings Bank branch, for which four tellers’ windows, a large ledger counter and big public space are provided, will bo transferred to the ground floor frontage, and at the farthest corner, along Main Street, will be opened the vestibule to a new postal box lobby, in which is to be installed a new set of steel private boxes of the latest type. r lhe present mail-room will be extended right along the back of the new Savings Bank branch. Under the rearranged facilities, the existing postal ■ box space will be converted exclusively for money ordei and general business usually handled by that department, which will have six tellers’ cubicles. There will be a new entrance to the Post Office from the side opposite the Square gardens, and adjoining the Kosy Theatre block. This will open into the telegraph and toll department, which will replace the present savings bank branch there. Eight telephone boxes will be provided instead of the present three close to the telegraphic counter. The present parcels counter, on the Alain Street frontage, will be set back eight feet and continued right round the corner to link up with the telegraph counter, giving a continuous sweep, with greater public space. The existing stamp counter will become the Customs and parcels section, while stamps and motor registration business will occupy what is the present money-order section. The general effect will be to centralise money order and savings bank business on most of the Main Street frontage, the remainder of the counter space right round being devoted to Customs, parcels, toll, telegraph, stamp, motor registration and other general facilities. Although tho alterations are extensive, it is understood that they may not mean any increase in the present Post Office staff, which locally has a personnel of 134. The rearrangements m the present building will not bo put in hand until the necessary departments have made a transfer to the new block. Between the old and the new buildings a large light well has been made a central feature. The upstairs frontage will bo used for the Chief Postmaster’s room, clerical staff, telegraph engineer’s room and his staff. The telegraph transmitting and receiving department will be extended along the hack of the first floor frontage, and the present space used for a despatch and stationery room. The existing rooms for tho postmaster and clerical staff will be used for staff retiring looms.