THE POSTMASTER-GENERAL'S REPLY.

Colonist, Volume LI, Issue 12463, 12 February 1909, Page 3

THE POSTMASTER-GENERAL'S REPLY.

— ♦ [United Press Association.] Rotorua, Febi.-IL The statement recently • made- by Mr A. W. Rutherford, ex-M.T., regarding the Wellington Post Office, was referred to by the PostmasSerGeneral (Sir Joseph. Ward) in -'the course of -an interview. The assertion of Mr Rutherford that all the space in the General Post Office at Wellington was not occupied was, Sir Joseph Ward said, quite contrary to -fact. The Department waspaying the sum qfy £2660 as rental for outside premises tnat had to be leased in carrying on branohes ot, tbe business for which room could not be found in the General Post Office. This entailed^a great deal of extra labour by reaflpn'Abf divided states and the, maintenance of a messenger service between tbe different offices, and it also caused inconvenience to the public. To show that' Wellington, was not being treated exceptionally witli j regard to - post office expenditure, he referred to the proposed new post office at Auckland, and^to the sums that bad been spent in past years on improvements at Auckland, Ohristchurch, Dunedin and other towns.