IMPROVEMENTS WANTED

Waikato Independent, Volume XXXIV, Issue 3110, 30 January 1934, Page 5

IMPROVEMENTS WANTED

ti TO CAMBRIDGE POST OFFICE 5

'AUTOMATIC EXCHANGE SERVICE

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE f TAKES ACTION

1 For several years now the local Chamber of Commerce has been hammering away at the Postal Department i'or the remodelling of the Post Office and the installation of an automatic exchange service. Actually a grant has appeared on the Department's estimates for the past two years, but that is as far as the Department has gone. At the annual meeting of the Chamber the matter was again taken up and a reply dated December 16, 1933- has teen received from the PostmasterGeneral (Hon. Adam 'Hamilton). He notes the Chamber's further request and says that there are many other ■works which have prior claims to ; con--1 sulJeration, and these works have absorbed the limited amount available for building purposes. "It is hoped !that conditions may permit of the remodelling of the Cambridge Post Office being undertaken in the next financial year," states the Minister. Referring to the conversion of the telephone exchange system to automatic working, the Postmaster-General gays it will mean the erection of a new building, and apart from this inevitable expenditure, the conversion will involve a large capital expenditure in the purchase of the automatic equipment. "In this connection I may state that it is still very imperative that Departmental expenditure be restricted in every possible direction," continued the Minister, who goes on to say: "I nnd-rstand that the manual system is sufficient to meet reasonable requirements for some time to come, and, as it is giving a reliable and satisfactory service, it is proposed to postpone any Change until conditions become more propitious." Chamber's Resolution. f The following resolution was passed at the Chamber's last executive meotTbngC' That the reply from the Post-mAstcr-General be received aid that •'this Chamber express its dissa ' \netion at the statements contained \ erein with reference to the remodelling of the Post Office and the installation of '-the automatic telephone service." It was further, resolved .that a copy of the Department's reply be sent to the district member, Mr F. Lye, asking that the matter be taken up further with the Postmaster-General and asking him to visit Cambridge at an early date to sec for himself the inconven"jexice caused the public by the inadeqvj'ato accommodation and unsuitable conditions under which the staff is working. It was also desired that when the Postmaster-General visits Cambridge he meet the president of the Chamber of Commerce and a strong deputation of citizens to confer on the matter.