MODERN THROUGHOUT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23106, 4 February 1937, Page 7

MODERN THROUGHOUT

THE POST OFFICE BUILDING UP-TO-DATE ACCOMMODATION SITUATION OF DEPARTMENTS Throughout the whole building, from the basement to the seventh floor, the new Post Office, which is now nearing completion,, is a fine example of the modern type of construction. Solidly built, it does not run to any of the extremes that are to be found at times in modern buildings, but it gives the impression that it will admirably serve the need it is designed to meet for many years to com There is no waste space—indeed, there are certain Government departments for which there will not be room in the building—but the accommodation which has been provided for those departments which will move in when it is finished is of an up-to-date and thoroughly suitable character. FACILITY OF WORKING Naturally the greater part of the space in the new building will be occupied bv the Post and Telegraph Department, which will require five floors—the basement, the ground and the first, second and third floors —but from that level to where the seventh floor stands high above most of the surrounding buildings accommodation has been provided for departments which are at present in various parts of the city in quarters which are really not suitable for the type of work that has to be 'done. But it is probably the Post and Telegraph Department that will benefit most from the change to the new building. The two branches of the department will be housed together, and every facility will be provided for the working together of the postal and the telegraph sections in a manner that.has not been possible under the system that has been operating for many years. When the building is opened there will be eight public entrances leading to different branches of the Post and Telegraph Department, and access will be gained from some of these to the lifts—modern to the last degree—which will carry persons wishing to visit Government departments on the upper floors. Altogether, six lifts are being installed, and these embody many new features which will accelerate the carriage of passengers throughout the building. Although all of then; are fitted for automatic working

they operate in a manner that will not be entirely familiar to the public, and for some time at least certain of the lifts will be worked by attendants. HANDLING OF MAILS An interesting feature of the basement is the loading dock fronting on Bond street. This will enable the rapid receipt and despatch of mails, as every facility has been provided for quick and efficient handling. Incoming mails will be transferred by means of a conveyer to the sorting room on the ground floor, while a room for the sorting and delivery of parcels is situated in the basement immediately behind the loading dock The telegram delivery branch will also be in the basement, where accommodation is provided for the messenger boys on a scale that will make their work much more pleasant. A large room is being set aside to house bicycles belonging to persons working in the building, and the basement also contains five strong rooms and ample space for the storing of stationery and othei supplies. The main entrance to the post office is on the ground floor facing into Princes street, where a flight of three or four steps will lead into the chief public counters. These occupy three sides of a large rectangular space where most of the ordinary public business will be transacted, and desks for the use of the public in filling in the numerous forms associated with the working of the post office are to be erected down the centre. This portion of the floor will also accommodate four slot tplephones, as well as a similar number for toll calls, while several other slot telephones will be provided throughout the building. To the left hand side of the main public space are situated the savings bank counters, while on the opposite side nearest to Liverpool street, is the mail room. The posting boxes in the main vestibule lead directly into the mail room, which is adjoined on the Liverpool street side by the private letter boxes. Incoming mail which has to be distributed in the city will be conveyed from the mail room to the postmen's room directly above on the first floor by means of two lifts, one for letters and the other for papers and parcels. This mail will be sorted by the postmen immediately before beginning their rounds, but letters, - packets, etc., which have to be sent on again from Dunedin will be dealt with in the mail room on the ground floor. EXCELLENT LIGHTING A good deal of the space on the first floor is to be occupied by the chief postmaster's clerical staff, while room is also provided for stores and for the activities of the postmen. Although the whole building has been so planned that there is adequate lighting throughout, the outside rooms on the first floor are particularly well favoured from that point of view. The high, arched windows which are such an attractive feature of the general aspect of the building have, in addition to their ornamental effect, the advantage of allowing the entrance of a great deal more light than the ordinary window. A suite of rooms for the use of Cabinet Ministers visiting Dunedin has been provided on this floor.

The technical branch of the Telegraph Department is to be situated on the second floor, where the south wing will be occupied by the telegraph engineers' branch and the operating room. With the exception of the Murray Duplex equipment, which is now in use 1 in the telegraph office, all the material for the transmitting and receiving of messages will be new. Naturally, a good deal of work is involved in the installation of this equipment, and the work has been proceeding at a steady pace for some time. Facilities are also provided for the telephoning of telegrams to offices where this is necessary. AMENITIES FOR WORKERS Further rooms for the use of the Post and Telegraph Department are provided on the third floor, where there will also be a billiard room for the use of workers in the building In their spare time, and a further amenity is a cafeteria, where light meals will be provided. There is also to be a library on this floor, as well as a reading roomu and another room has been set aside as a women's rest room to be used by girls working in the building. The social and other similar activities will be ynder the control of committees which have been set up for that purpose. The front portion of the fourth floor is to be occupied by the local branch of the State Advances Corporation. The north wing will accommodate the Department of Agriculture, and the Customs Department will move into a suite of rooms on the opposite side of the building. The Lands Department and the Lands and Deeds Department will take up the greater part of the space on the fifth floor, and the remainder of the accommodation will be divided among the Stamp Duties Department, the Transport Department and the Primary Products Marketing Department. The Lands and Survey Department will occupy most of the sixth floor, and almost the whole of the seventh floor will be devoted to the uses of the Public Works Department, two rooms being set aside for the Treasury Department.