NEW POST OFFICE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21995, 3 July 1933, Page 14

NEW POST OFFICE

A LONG AGITATION

GOVERNMENT'S WELCOME DECISION

BENEFIT TO BUILDING INDUSTRY

The example which the Government has set in its decision to proceed with the erection of the new Post Office, taking advantage of the’Unemployment Board’s subsidy, should stimulate building activity in Dunedin, for it is considered that if the Government, after such lengthy delay, considers the present time and present conditions so opportune for the commencement of such a work the public is likely to take a similar view.

The erection of a building likely to cost in the vicnity of £250,000 must create very considerable activity, both directly and indirectly, in the building industry, and the trade as a whole is expected to take a definite forward step. It is interesting to note that the building will be the first over erected as a chief post office in Dunedin and used as such. The city’s first post office was housed in Mr Arcliilbald Anderson’s store, Mr Anderson providing the facilities and acting as postmaster free of cost. The next post office was on the site where the new building is now to be erected. It was intended when the present Stock Exchange building was erected in 180-1 that it should bo a post office, but it was never put to that purpose. Over many years there was an agitation for tho building of a post office in Dunedin and finally tins department was housed in the Provincial Government’s own building, almost the whole of which was eventually used by this branch of the State’s activities. It was in IDH! that the building was condemned and the Garrison Hall became Dunedin’s chief Post Office. For some years tho old building remained un-

tenanted, until finally tho Government demolished it, and erected at a cost stated to be in the vicinity of £30,000 tlie foundations which will carry the imposing eight-storey structure which it is now proposed to erect. The completion of this work, however, was not followed by the satisfaction and desire harboured for so many years by Dunedin people for a new post office, but two years ago hopes were revived when tenders were called for the erection of the building. Later, however, those hopes were again shattered by the Government’s announcement that it was not in a position lo accept any tender. Last year, however, an organised agitation for the carrying out of the Government’s promise culminated in a public meeting marked by considerable enthusiasm, and a deputation was sent to Wellington to urge Die immediate commencement of the work. It returned satisfied with a promise given by the Prime Minister (Mr G. W. Forbes) that no major public building would take precedence over the Dunedin Post Office: That promise has now been fulfilled by the Government’s announcement that the long-awaited building is now to bo commenced.