THE NEW POST OFFICE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13613, 5 December 1907, Page 6

THE NEW POST OFFICE.

INTERVIEW WITH THE MAYOR.

" VICTORIA ARCADE THE IDEAL

SITE."

Thk Mayor of Auckland (Mr. Arthur M. Myers) was interviewed by a Herald representative yesterday, for the purpose of ascertaining his views on the site selected by the Government for the new post office. " I have no doubt that the site selected by Sir Joseph Ward is a desirable one," he said, "especially from a Departmental point of view, being in close proximity to the wharves and railway station. 1 do not consider that the fact of it, being a little lower down the street than the present building will seriously interfere with the convenience of the general public, as I understand that it will still bo possible to post letters at the present post office, which will be retained for the use of the Telegraph Department, while on the other hand it will bo possible to send telegrams from the proposed new post office as well, as the Government intend to connect the two buildings, with a pneumatic tube for the conveyance of letters or telegrams. In addition, the contemplated establishment of a money order post office near Queenstreet, in the vicinity of Wellesley-street. practically divides Queen-strict into three sections, all of which will bo provided for. "I do not think that anyone can Question that tho Victoria Arcade would be the most ideal site of any in the city, both from an architectural and utilitarian point of view, for the erection of up to date post and telegraph offices, worthy of the city, having regard both to present and future requirements. 1 spent a considerable time this morning talking over the whole matter with the Prime >V.nister, but I may say at once that the site is one of the City Council endowments, and as Mayor of the city I do not think it would be wise to rftrt with such a valuable property, as when the present lease of the New Zealand Insurance Company expires. '.n 26 vears, the buildings erected by them will become the property of the City Council. The present rental receivable is £2810, while the Council receives £600 by way ot rates from the various tenants. If the Government purchased, of course there would be an immediate loss of this £600, even if we received a sufficient sum to pay off the Council's interest in the land and building. I consider that the present value of the Council's interests would be at least £100,000; but even if the full value were received I should be sorry if the citizens of Auckland were deprived* of this splendid endowment.

" I am fully aware that other sites have been suggested, and I discussed at length the desirability of the Government pur chasing Hobso'n Buildings; but 1 understand that the present buildings could not be made use of, and would have to be pulled down, while a further expense would 'also be incurred in altering the present post office, so as to adapt it to the new conditions. I have no doubt that Sir Joseph Ward has gone carefully into the whole matter, and has come to the conclusion that in selecting the railway station site he is doing the best possible with the money at his disposal. He seems to be much impressed with the desirability of having the building facing Queen-street. " As to railway requirements, I understand that that question has been gone into very carefully by Sir Joseph, who informs me that accommodation for the plant, etc., will have to be found further afield; but if the scheme is carried out as he suggests, the requirements of the travelling public, as well as of pedestrian and vehicular traffic, will be amply provided for.' \ ~ A HOSTILE RESOLUTION. A public meeting, convened by advertisement, was held at Sir G. Grey's statue last night to discuss the action of the Post-master-General in selecting the railway reserve .for the site of the new post office building.. Mr. Richardson said that he had convened the meeting because he':considered that while the proposed site was an admirable one for a new railway station, it was not central enough for a post office. Auckland was entitled to both a new railway station and a new post office. He then discussed the position of the post offices in Sydney, Melbourne, Dunedin, Christchurch, and Wellington, and said that all of them were centrally situated. This site, however, was on the outside of all the population, which was daily increasing in other directions. He then submitted a motion, protesting against the railway site being used. The motion was seconded. An amendment to adopt the site selected was moved by one of the audience) and seconded, but was lost by a large majority. Mr. Richardson next moved, " That the Mayor be requested to convene a public meeting of citizens to discuss the whole question at an early date." This was carried unanimously. A MEMBER'S VIEW.

In his remarks at the social tendered to him at Ponsonby last evening, Mr. C. H. Poole, M.P., said that they were going to have a new post office at the dead end of .the railway station. In referring to the criticisms levelled against the site and the contention that the Government should purchase another site, he asked " why should we allow ourselves to be legally plundered, when the people of the,back blocks .ire almost swimming for the want of roads and ■ bridges!" WELLESLEY-STREET OFFICE. Sir Joseph Ward, in his capacity as Post-masster-Geiwral, yesterday approved of the purchase of.a portion of Philson's property, Wellesley and Lome Streets, for a site for the new" branch post office. The area selected will have a frontage of 50ft to Web lesley-street. VIEWS OF CORRESPONDENTS. "SITES SELECTED WHILE YOU WAIT!" Sir,—-Tho great man has arrived with the plans of tho new post office, and tho whole matter has been settled iu 10 minutes. Does it not seem farcical to come a long journey to choose a site which had already been decided upon, and most of the preliminaries arranged beforehand? Surely tho people of Auckland deserve all they get, and nothing more. We who pay the piper aro not- allowed to call the tune. For a few beggarly thousands of pounds our site for a proper and imposing railway station which will meet the growing traffic is to bo filched from us, and a cross between municipal offices and a railway station erected thereon. Surely those who have the best interests of this growing city at heart will not submit to this without making a vigorous protest. If it comes to that, whv should the choice lie with the Postmaster-General? Who is he, after all, but the paid servant of the people, and who but the people pay for it all? I suppose, as in everything else, the payers—the people— will let tho matter slide. X.Y.Z. IN' SUPPORT OF THE SITE. .Sir, —I would like to say a few words in refutation of the letters of "Justice" and "A Business Man" in to-day's Hkkaid. The former's letter contains no arguments to support the justice (?) he asks for, excepting, perhaps, when he says that it "is nothing short of scandalous" and "positively ridiculous.'' His only point is that " any person with the slightest knowledge of l>e partmental work knows that under no circumstances should the post and telegraph work be separated—one is the counterpart, of the other." This is very emphatic, but docs ".Justice" not know that for a great number of years the post and telegraph branches, respectively, have been carried on most successfully in separate buildings in Dunediu. and I submit the same thing eould be done in Auckland. "A Business Man" , claims that the post office should be in the centre of the city. For my own part, I think tho railwov site is an admirable one, and, with the sub-office in \Vc!lo»loy-:- f reet. wili prove most convenient, to both busi"css people and unvote citizens, notwithstanding the. rather weak argument of " the business man tramping down, etc." In conclusion, I think the Government aro to be complimented on the site chosen, and I trust that, the public of Auckland will for once appreciate the desire of those in power to make our New Zealand cities up to date. Impabtiai.