PALMERSTON’S WANTS

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1675, 6 April 1904, Page 59

PALMERSTON’S WANTS

DEPUTATION TO SIR JOSEPH WARD

A deputation of Palmerston North residents was introduced to Sir Joseph Ward last. Wednesday bv Mr W. f. Wood, M.H.R.. , . Mr J. Hurley spoke of the great desire amongst Pal mere ton people for the, speedy erection of the new post office, for which provision was made on last 3 T ,ear’s Estimates. Mr Hurley mentioned that "the vote was made a year previously but not expended, and for reason there was a fear that unless the work was begun this month the - vote might /lapse. Mr Hurley also spoke of the desirableness of having a chief post office at .Palmerston North, instancing several cases of inconvenience and delay that were occasioned to business people and savings-bank depositors under piesent conditions. This trouble was as great or greater to residents of Shannon, Woodville and Bulls as it- was to Pailmerst on residents. He quoted figures to show the ■volume of business done at Palmerston North.

Mr R. S. Abraham bore testimony from his own business experience to the hindrance occasioned to savings-bank depositors by the necessity of awaiting advices from the present head office (Wellington) before withdrawals of money could he made. One result was that many people did not bank with the Government Savings Bank at all, hut kept their money in handier form. Mi* Abraham testified to the excellent telephone facilities the Government had given Palmerston North.

Sir Joseph Ward,, replying, said that tillel/t'Ownisipeiopl a need!'haw© no fear wboUtt the vote for the poet office expiring—the end of March wouild not affect it in any way—but he knew their member would tell them that the initial vote was taken with the expressed intention of going on with the work at such time as the Government was in a position to do so. (Mr Wood: “That is so.”) If the question of a chief post office: for Palmerston could be decided by the amount of money order work, lio doubt a strong case was made out. hut very many other things had to bo considered. It did not do to disorganise the work of a district. In Southland there was only one chief poet office for the whole province; Otago, Hawke’s Bay and Taranaki were similarly placed ; in Auckland, lie thought, there were only two chief offices, and in the Bay of Plenty only. one. In this district there wero both Wellington and Wanganui, and to set up a third would mean a. great change in the conduct of the business. He would look into the matter, but he' could make no promise.

The deputation asked for an alteration ol the railway arrangements, eo that the journey between Palmerston North and Masterton might be expedited. Sir Joseph Ward replied, that he had had inquiries made some time ago. into the subject, and so far as he could remember it had been shown that, to alter the trains would entail trouble on the settlers near the centre, though it inig.it suit the convenience of the people at each terminus. He woutld, however, have another report made on tfie. subject. \