Auckland West to Have Post Office

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 842, 10 December 1929, Page 1

Auckland West to Have Post Office

MINISTER’S PROMISE AREA OF EXPANSION To give better postal facilities to j businesses on the western side of Queen Street, a new branch post office will be opened somewhere in the vicinity of Hobson and Victoria Streets. This assurance was given to interested businessmen by the Post-master-General, the Hon. J. B. Donald, when a public deputation arranged by the West of Queen Street Development Association, waited upon him in the Manchester Unity Hall Building this morning. The deputation was introduced by Mr. W. E. Parry, M.P., who said it was the desire of the association to have a post office in the western area. The Manchester Unity Building offered an ideal site, though it was not urged that it should be used as such. The time was now ripe for a post office in the area, which would assist materially in promoting business. “It is about time something was done to relieve the congestion in the Queen Street and Wellesley Street post offices. If a post office was given a trial In this district, postal business would possibly Increase also,” said Mr. A. J. Hutchison, president of the association. “We do not ask the department to go to great expense in building an office. All we ask is that temporary premises be taken and that the scheme be given a trial. If, after three months, the department considers it a losing proposition, it can be removed or left, at the department’s discretion.” It was hardly fair that businessmen in the vicinity had to go right across to Queen Street to do their postal business. The time had come when better facilities could be provided. “We are out to put the section west of Queen Street on the business map,” said Mr. R. A. Laidlaw, who supported the previous speaker. “The narrow streets on the other side of Queen Street rule them out for expansion and Queen Street itself is too congested, but In this part of the town we have an excellent area for development. There are large tracts of land that can yet be built on, and the section will grow rapidly.” He stressed the fact that the postal business already in the area would make a branch post office a paying proposition, and it was only a question of . time'' when expansion would force the department to Instal a branch office. “My mind was already made up what to do,” said the Minister in reply. "It is my intention to give a post office a trial in this area. I realise that the business is increasing here, and that there is plenty of vacant land for fresh buildings to go up. The request is a reasonable one, and I can assure you the office will be given much longer than a three months’ trial.” Mr. Donald went on to say that the department would now look around for a suitable building at a reasonable rental. He was of the opinion that the suggestion to place the office in the Manchester Unity Buildings at the corner of Victoria and Hobson Streets was a good one. Though the other cities of the Dominion did not find branch post offices to pay, Auckland had had a different experience. The thanks of the meeting were expressed to the Postmaster-General by Mr. W. E. Parry.