WAIMATE POST OFFICE.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13955, 15 July 1909, Page 7

WAIMATE POST OFFICE.

PROPOSED ALTERATIONS, REJECTED BY COUNCIL. At Tuesday night's meeting of -the AYaimate Borough Council, tho Mayor In his opening statement said a letter liad been received from Sir W. J. Steward, enclosing plans for proposed alterations to the post office, and Sir" William kindly offered to romp to this meeting and discuss fully with them the Government's suggestion. His Worship hoped tho Council would decline •tho alterations and additions offered "hy the Government instead of tho new building promised them Inst year. Tho j>ronosed alterations wonld in 110 practical manner improve, tlio facilities of tho public for transacting business ■whilst the alterations to tho staff's accommodation would bo of little benefit. If the revocation of their promise of a new post office was due to lack of funds, it would surely bo an easy ■matter for tho Government to sell tho section on which t?i*» present building stands, and with tho proceeds, n"fomented by the £1:500 or even £IOOO of tho money now available for alterations.- to erect an office wliirh would cable both f'e public and the staff to carry on their business in a- satisfactory manner and orovide tho town" with, an edifice suitable -to its requirements.

S>r Wm. Steward'* letter was then Toad. This showed there were two alternatives—to accept the proposed! additions or to wait probably for years for a now office—and the former was recommended subject to any revision desirable on tbe plan sent.

Sir William then addressed tlie Council. Ho considered the town was entitled to a new post office. Tlie business done was almost cnial to that done at Geraldire and Temuka combined, and each had new offices. Tho Cabinet bad however, decided thnf_ "present they could not voto over £l;">fK>. and the Minister for Public Workslia'd authority to go on with the nlterations to this extent. Ho (tlie speaker} .was advised the Government conld not find tho money to do more. The proposed alterations nvould not be of much advantage to the public, and after reconsideration. he did not recommend acceptance of the proposed alterations. Possibly they would havo to wait a year, or perhaps two, before getting a new office. ' The matter was then discussed generally and tho present premises roundly condemned. Tho proposed additions, it was considered, would be of littlo use and would spoil any cliancc of getting an up-to-date offico for many years. ■ "Ultimately a rr'vtion was earnedwTliat the V'-.u-u-il considers that tho suggested rlf'rations to post offico would be <f little benefit to the public und reqti- sts Sir W"i.. Steward to inform the actini-Postmaster-General that the district ; s in its opinion en--tHied to the fulfilment of Sir -T. Ward's promise to erect a new buildiTg which would lie sufficiently commodious to carry on the business of a prosperous district for the next o0 The Council Sir W illinm for • ]»»5 attendance, and full explanation of the position. .