THE POST OFFICE SITE QUESTION.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXXVI, Issue XXXVI, 24 October 1902, Page 2

THE POST OFFICE SITE QUESTION.

To the EdiUr. Sir— As one who has not yet written or inspired a line of the ful- ome coal roversv rr advertisements th'.t bave iounda'ed the local press recently anent the site for (be new post office, I would now ask your indulgence for a few short remarks on tbe mi3l*-ading a rocance of tbe person or presons who published the advertisement beaded " Comparative List," attempting to show that there are 32 leading firms, otc , " 6ervrd " by the present site, snd only 8 agaimt it. Without groin? into tbo quefction bb to who are ibe " lea-ling " citizens and tvho are the " led '* ci'izens, ae there may be the same comparison as bof weea " grand " and '' common " juries — the litter doing tbe real part of the business — it. would be a pity to allow this wonderful comparative liht to mislead any one who may not have time to look into this question and sso at a glance that it is as absurd as some other communications from the same quarter that have app ared lately. j Firstly, Mr Editor, if is quite a joke io ] see names plac : d among fiopo 32 who favour the Trafalgar-street North sits. Secondly, the chief institution in the city, ! viz, tho Government Buildings and the Cm torn House, would be bettor served by the proposed new site, and tho officers are in favour of it. I suppose snch lrading citizens as these (here follows a list of over 30 well known business firms) are not worth noticing, as the " Comparative List " would bave us believe that all the business of the city Is done near the present post office site. The Poet who composed this "precious list" must have been inspired by Mr Duncan's other leading article (the XXX one), and the intelligent public of Nelson must be held in poor esteem if they can be misled by such a miserable attempt to gull them. In conclusion I would ask those opposed to tbe Trafalgar-f-t* eet North file one question, and that is : If thiß site is as unsuitable as you would make believe, why we you so afraid to bave the matter submitted to th« jndgment of the Government ?— I am, etc, F. N. JONES. J Tq the Editor. Sir— Tn conversation with a working man liviue in the Wood he irformed me Lhat list Tuesday a younr fellow called on him iv ith a p tit ion askiowhiin to sign for tbe new pot office in Trafalgar-street. He replied, " I hasre already done so for another man, Mr Condell." The canvasser then said, " You can sign tbi* too, as it is all the same thing," but my informant repli d, " I do not want to sign two lifts, but where do you suggest the site ?" "Oh at tho old site near the Church Hill " " No," said my informant, " I signed for the north end, acd I would be breaking my word, ond do not wish to do so." But, continued my informant, " tbe canvasser st ill pressed me, saying that 20 out of 25 had signed both lists, but on still refuting he laf t." Now Sir, a3 a ranvasser for tho new site, I object lo such tatties, as I bare since heard that several others have been solicited in tho same btrain, and many I may have sig* ed both paiitioas in ignor- I aaco. I may mention that I had canvass- I ed the Wood thc p evious week, I Yours, etc., T. H. CONDELL. To the Editor. Sir — Mr H. K. Duncau ia evidently i great believer in himßelf wben be says " Too Thin " and other correspondent* have tailed to answer '' bis few couimoi sense reasons for tho retention of the pre sent site." Odo would never have known they were common sense reasons unless Mr Duncan bad told them so. I don't quite see whore the common sense coinee in when he asks the Government to destroy a good Eound building which would do for other purposes for many years, and erect on tho cramped eite what he calls a handsome post office, when one of tho best sites in the colony is (ffered free of of cost. Mr Duncan's statements re business men going to the post office on an average four or five times a day was fcimply bosh. He was also shown to be all at eoa in his distances. In any oase his letter was worthless, as he was undoubtedly battltng for his vested interests, or what is vulgady called looking after No. 1. Mr, Uuucan musl surely know that the public 1 «re not so simple or credulous to think! that a man who owns a large botel and other p operty almost in front of the door ofthe present post office can bare anything but biassed an 1 distorted views re post office site. I think, Sir, undor the circumbtances, it was questionable taste for him (o take part in the correspondence at all, let alone posing as a most disinterested writer. — 1 am, etc, TOO THIN. "LEST THEV FOKUET." To the Editor. Sir — A f *«v facts to guide oar City atucio to-night ; -

1. The genuine petition signed by ovcr 500 are guaranteed all over 21 y^ars. 2. Not one signature was forced— &ll igned willingly, therefore all are interred. 3. I his is a chance that will never ->c;ur again, and don't let your children rrow up to have thrown at them -that j j*ou were one of those who let the grand- I jet chance slip for prog, ose and bean! if y- 1 ng the lown tbat over occurred. | 4. Woull you destroy such such a solid , building as the present post office if it were your own undor the ci reams* ancos ' of such a valuable offer -is tho north sit ? 5. If thero is a pt*titi< n against tbe , north bite, discount its real (vortL 5o per cent, and fee how tunny there are <>n it under the a e of 21 ; and don't forget theie are several on it through mUrepresentation, as will be shown. \ 6. Lastly, don't forget that the few j who are advocating the present site will be the fir&t to congratulate the t ity | Council wben they sce the hne building on Po=t Office Square. You s, etc , PROGRESSIVE SLEkPY HOLLOW. j To the Editor. I Sir, — a_s many correspondents are now urging tbat " btpps "be taken to transfer the post office to Traf algar-stret b I No th, allow me to point out the exlia Utjps that maybe taken ft hen the of- ' fice is transferred. Take the old age pei.- --• Bioners. Assuming that 50 live south of I Hard j --treet, then the extra 'tips required of them will be 42,000. Of the residents, presuming that at least 20.0 have business at the poat office and that one with another thoy visit the office at least twice a week, then the extra slep3 they will provide will be over 13,000,000 monthly, I have taken the distance as 420 steps each way. I aro, etc., SOLE LEA'iHEE. To the Editor. Sir,— Among the numerous correspondents who have contributed " their little lot " to the Post Office Site controversy are a number of our respected townsmen who have appended their names. They write deploring this warfare of sites, stating that it will accomplish no good that in a matter of this" kind private interests should not sway the people's | judgment, that a building could be erected on the present site that : would serve Nelson's postal needs ' for the next 100 years, that the site is central and that from twoI thirds to seven-eights of the people ' are satisfied with it, etc. But, Sir, : I think that a little of the brilliancy of their writing and arguments will be dimmed when it is pointed out that all these gentle- | men either reside or have business places in Hardy-street, and although them believe themselves to be thoroughly conscientious in their convictions, it cannot be considered for a mo ment that their contributions would carry as much wight with the general public as those of disinterested persons. A., I reside in Bridge-street, in the vicinity of the proposed site, I shall not offer any opinions on the rival sites, .as I am and would be regarded by the public as an int/ercsto'i person. But I think. I^can • ; fairly say without being accused of bias, that if it. is the wish of the bulk of the citizens to have the site in Trafalgar-street North, their wishes should be considered. On the other hand, if the bulk favour the present site, they should have it. I think that most of those who are agitating for the Trafalgarstreet North site would be content to abide by a poll as suggested by Mr W. Haddow, and also by the " Mail." In conclusion, I sincerely ho?*** that ultimately a public meeting will be called to discuss this important question. Yours, etc., W. LOCK.