MARTON POST OFFICE

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12282, 30 October 1925, Page 8

MARTON POST OFFICE

FOUNDATION STONE LAID AN IMPOSING EDIFICE MR COATES PERFORMS CEREMONY (By Telegraph—“ Times” Special Reporter.) MARTON, October 29, There was a big gathering at Marton this afternoon when the Prime Minister laid the foundation stone of a new post office. The Mayor of Marfon, Mr P. Burnell, who presided* referred to the Prime Minister ns a man who beyond doubt was able to get things done. Mr Coates’s energy, ability, and enterprise were reflected in the railway works and the hydro-electric works of the country. The Mayor observed that he had attended the hydro-electric conference in Wellington, and the personal triumphs Mr Coates had scored at those conferences were due te the great work he had done in the departments he had controlled, particularly that department concerned with hydroelectrical development. Mr W. S. Glenn expressed his pleasure at being present, and said that it had been one of his dreams since enterihg Parliament to see a new post office built at Marton. It now seemed that the dream would soon be realised. The Secretary of the Post Office, Mr A T. Markman, said there had been some comment respecting the selection of the.site for the new building, and it had been alleged that he had chosen the present site because a certain person had property interests near by. emphatically denied that. He did not know that the person referred to owned the property until he had read the allegation in a newspaper. The' business of the post office in Marton had increased rapidly, and the population had more than doubled itself in the last twelve years. Those who desired the building had looked ahead and planned a building that should suffice without alteration or addition for twenty-five years. • SOMEONE WITH A BUG * The Prime Minister said that the building would be a handsome structure, convenient to work in, ’and for the public to do business at. It was nonsense'to suggest that the selection of the site was due to political influence. Whoever had that “bug” had better get it out of his head. Political nor private interests never entered into the consideration when public works were to he undertaken. The branch of the public service that undoubtedly testifies to the progress, or otherwise, of a district is the Post and Telegraph Department, said Mr Coates, _ and in the case of Marton it will he interesting to the residents to learn that the laying of the foundation stone of a new post office building marks a milestone in tfie progress of the district. A 'post office was first established at Marton on June Ist, 1867, and a post office btiilding was first erected at Marton in the year 1870. This building was destroyed in 1895 bv a fire which originated in the premises. The present post office building was erected in 1897 in order to meet, the increasing business, and an addition was made to the building in 1920 to provide accommodation for the telephone exchange. Owing to the . expansion of the department’s business it was recognised early in 1920 that the accommodation in the existing building was insufficient for repuirements, and the question of providing additional accommodation, which is considered necessary to meet present-day requirements and to provide for the immediate future, has been given very close attention by the department. NEW BUILDING PROPOSED The construction of the present building would not permit of the erection of satisfactory* additions, and it was decided to provide a new building. The dimensions of the site of the existing post office building would not allow of the erection thereon of the proposed new building, and it was necessary therefore io oh tain another area as a "site. TBe question of where the new building should he placed wng freely discussed by residents at a public meeting held in the borongh council chambers on October 13th, 1920, at which the Mayor nresided._ and it was decided to leave the selection of a site in the hands of the department. The secretary of the department subsequently visited Marton. and as a result of bis visit the section at the corner of Broadway and Follett street was selected for the new building. INCREASED BUSINESS The following figures indicate the increase in business during the last ten years: Letters, postcards and other articles posted in 1914 numbered 487,220, and in 1924 the number was 662,925; letters', postcards, and other articles delivered in 1914 totalled 564,410, and in 1927, 782,390. The postage revenue in 1914 was £2140, find in 1924 £2BIO. In 1914 the post office savings bank business involved the sum of £55,380, while in the year 1924 the amount was £i-t4.5i0. Similarly the npmber of toll messages handled ' increased from 95,190 10,1914 to 118,390 in 1924. “The figures which I have quoted must not be taken as an indication of the total business under those headings dealt with by the department in Martort for the reason that there is a fully equipped post office at the railway station. As an indication of how the department’s business at Marton has increased and of the department’s faith in the future of Marton it will be interesting to compare the floor space provided in the existing building with that of the new building. In the old building there are 1640 square feet of floor space, while in the new building a total of 3184 square feet is being provided, and this idoes not include the automatic telephone exchange, switchroom, battery room, etc. HANDSOME STRUCTURE As indicated provision has been made for an automatic telephone exchange which will no doubt be fully appreciated by residents. The new }>uilding will be a handsome structure, and will he erected on the corner of Broadway and Lower Follett streets, having a frontage of 101 J feet to the former, and 69$ feet to the latter, and will be of two stories with brick walls, cement plastered on the exterior, and will have concrete floors, and be practically fireproof. The ground floor will contain the public space, money order and savings hank departments, mail room, battery and machinery rooms of the automatic exchange. The upper floor, the telegraph operating room, telephone exchange, toll room, automatic telephone switch room and spare rooms for the use of other Government departments. The usual retiring and lavatory accommodation for men and women is protided on each floor. 'Jhe building as far as design is concerned is a distinct departure from the type of post office building hitherto ereefed, and is a logical expression

of the requirements of modern postal, telegraph, and telephone business. ' IDEAL CONDITIONS The convenience of the public has been studied at every point, whilst almost ideal conditions will be provided for the staff. The main entrance will be on the corner through a circular classic portico with a balcony over leading to a spacious vestibule 12 feet by 11 feet, containing the posting '-slots, mail notices and two slot telephone cabinets. Also the entrance to the public space which will face Follett street on the right’and access by a wide stair to the upper floor on the left immediately adjoining the entrance. In addition to the main building a large garage and store building, 80 feet by 24 feet, will be located at the back of the site. The buildings, the plans for which were prepared in the Government architects’ office, wil] cost approximately £17,000, and will be erected by Mr A. G. Bignell, of Wanganui. Mr A. G. Bignell, who has taken the contract, assured the gathering the building would be a particularly fine edifice. The proceedings closed with cheers for Mr Coates..