NEW

Thames Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 19621, 31 January 1936, Page 2

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THAMES’ U

Protest Against Delay!

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE,

MR. THORN’S HELP SOUGHT. The urgent necessity to the Thames business community of an immediate commencement with the work of erecting the new chief post office in Pollen Street, on the site opposite lletheringtons, was emphasised by the president and secretary of the Chamber of Commerce, .Messrs. C. J. Garland and J. Kernick, respectively, in an interview with Mr. J. Thorn, M.P., yesterday. In seeking Mr. Thorn’s assistance in the matter, the representatives of the Chamber emphasised that the promise of a new central post office was one of long standing. They detailed the history of the negotiations with the late and former Governments for the provision of a new building.

The first deputation from the Thames Borough Council, Thames County Council and Thames Chamber of Commerce waited on the then Postmaster-General, Mr. J. B. Donald, at Thames in 1929. The promise then given was to the effect that steps in connection with the erection of a new building would be put in hand during the next financial year.

Representations made to the Ministers concerned in 1930, 1934 and last year were traced, the reply to the last of which was given by the ex-Postmaster-General, Mr. A. Hamilton, who stated that the preparation of plans was being pushed forward. The Minister also gave tho assurance that no avoidable delay would occur in the calling of tenders with a view to the early commencement of the work.

Centre for Business

It was submitted to Mr. Thorn that the centralisation of the business area was in the interests of tho town. Banks and other important businesses had gradually moved to within a short distance of the site selected for the new post office, and it was believed that with the erection of the new office business would be encouraged to still further settlo on the western side of Pollen Street and thus consolidate the business area in place of the straggling lino of shops a ini offices formerly spread throughout the town.

In conclusion, the Chamber delegates remarked that representations had frequently been made to tho Chamber regarding the disabilities of business houses owing to the distance of the present chief post office from the business centre.

Mr. Thorn, in a non-committal r.eply, undertook to place the representations before the Minister for Public Works, Mr. R. Semple, and the Postmaster-General, Mr. F. Jones.