POST OFFICE BUILDINGS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11754, 19 July 1916, Page 2

POST OFFICE BUILDINGS.

ALTERAM IN PARCELS OFFICE! Instructions have been given that the postal buildings in Hereford Street, used by the parcels department, shall be pulled down. The work will bo taken in hand at once. Pending the erection of a new building, the parcels department will use spare rooms in the building in Cathedral Square occupied for many years by. the Customs Department, and recently by the Recruiting Office. A protest against this arrangement has been made by Mr H. G. Ell, M.P., who is in communication with the Post-master-General and the Minister of Public Works on the subject. It may bo a long time before tho new building in Hereford Street is erected, and Mr EH considers that it is unfair to expect the officers of the parcels department to efficiently carry out their duties in the small space available in the Cathedral Square building. If the orrangement is carried out, it will be necessary for tho ' parcels department to take its vans into the right-of-way between the Post Office building and the Harbour Board's offices. This thoroughfare is in frequent use by many people, and it is feared that tho presence of the vans will cause inconvenience, and perhaps danger. Mr Ell contends that the wiser course would be to aLJow the parcels department to remain in the present buildings until the Government is ready to erect the' new ones without delay. If this is done, tho inconvenience will be for only a very short time. Mr Ell is in favour of adding two storeys on to the main building in Cathedral Square. He has obtained expert opinion that this can be done quite safely t as the walls of the building are exceptionally strong.