POST OFFICE SITE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22431, 29 May 1936, Page 14

POST OFFICE SITE

DISPUTE IN HAMILTON DEPUTATIONS TO MINISTER STREET FRONTAGE QUESTION [FROM OUR OWN COIIRKSrONDKNT] HAMILTON, Thursday The suggestion put forward by the Hamilton Borough Council that the proposed new chief post office for Hamilton should occupy an island site on Garden Place 140 yds. back from Victoria. Street, was discussed by two deputations which waited on the Post-master-General, the Hon. F. Jones, in Hamilton to-day. The council offered to exchange tho old Courthouse site opposite Garden Place for an area in Garden Place. The first deputation, representing the Garden Place Preservation Society, opposed the council's proposal. It requested that tho erection of tho post office be expedited and that the site already selected for tho building be retained.

Tho second deputation represented the Hamilton Borough Council, tho members of which brought forward arguments in favour of ' tho Garden I'laco site.

The Minister stated that ho considered Hamilton had a claim for a new post office, but ho and his officers wero strongly of tho opinion that the building should have a frontage to Victoria Street. They wero quite satisfied with the old Courthouse site, but were willing to move across tho street to Garden Place so long as the building had a frontage to Victoria Street. Ho recognised that the latter site was much more valuable than tho old Courthouse site, but he did not approvo of a building 140 yds. back facing Alexandra Street. If there was a dispute over the site, the department would sit back until the dispute was settled.

On Mr. J. E. Tidd's suggestion, Mr. Jones consented to give the council a fortnight in order to make further representations to him.