NEW POST OFFICE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXII, Issue 19441, 29 October 1925, Page 11

NEW POST OFFICE

BEGUN AT MARTON FOUNDATION STONE LAID PRIME MINISTER PE. \jRMS CEREMONY In accordance with his promise the Prime Minister, the Hon. J. G. Coates, visited Marton yesterday afternoon to lay the foundation stone of the new Post Office. Though his departure from Wanganui was delayed, the Prime Minister lost no time on the road, and was at Marton practically on time, to be greeted with the utmost enthusiasm by a very large crowd gathered on the site of the Post Office. The Mayor of Marton, Mr F. Purnell, presided over the gathering, and among those grouped around him were the Hot.. E. Newman, M.L.C., and Mrs Newman, Mr W. S. Glenn and Mrs Glenn, Mr F. Linklater, Mr A. T. Markman ( secretary to the Post Office), Mr H. Bree (Chief Postmaster, Wanganui), Messrs R. E. Beckett and J. H. Miles (ex-Mayors of Marton), Mr A. G .Simpson (chairman Rangitikei County Council) and Miss Simpson, Mr and Mrs F. R. H. Brice, Mr A. G. Bignell (contractor for the building) and Miss Bignell.

The chairman offered Mr Coates a hearty welcome to Marton. There were in the Marton district, he said, a great number of people who admired the Prime Minister’s ability, energy, and success as Minister in charge of three groat State services—Post and Telegraph, Railways and Public Works. Although not at present in charge of the Post and Telegraph Department, he was there as Prime Minister to lay the foundation stone of the new post and telegraph buildings. It had been publicly stated that it was significant that the ceremony was being held on the eve of the general election. In reply to that, he would say as definitely as he could that in his opinion it was a thousand pities the foundation stone was not laid on the eve of the general election three years ago. The progress of Marton and its importance as the centre of a thriving and progressive district warranted and demanded the erection of the building at that time, and he was certain it should have been and would have been so erected but for the sad disagreement over the question of site.

“Regarding railways,” said Mr Purnell, “up to a comparatively recent date the customers of the railway were often treated with scant courtesy —if they were not treated as a nuisance they were simply tolerated —but at present there is an entirely different feeling. It is a pleasure now to do business with the railway, and the whole service from top to bottom is now out to give service ami the best service. We like to think that much of this change is due to what I may ’’oates personality. It is, howMinister of Public Works that th • . ..:!!•• Minister has excelled, and 1 have come closely in contact with him in the hydro-electricity department. We have to admit that there may have seen some mistakes or perhaps miscalculations in the cost of l he great hydro-electric undertakings now being carried out, but even at the increased cost we know that these schemes are going to prove financially sound, that they will handsomely pay their way and will play a very important and successful part in the life and industry of the Dominion, and that the country districts will benefit equally with the city and town areas. Mr Coates has given this department a great deal of personal attention and lias devoted much energy and ability in pushing on the various schemes. At the Power Boards’ conferences held yearly, and attended by delegates from all parts of the Dominion and having all shades of political opinion, the reception always given to Mr Coates as Minister in charge have been very flattering to him. To me they seemed a personal triumph to that gentleman, and an expression of goodwill to one displaying energy and business ability and fair-mindedness and open-minded-ness and fair dealing as between the Department and Board. As chairman of the Power Board I can return sincere thanks to him for his personal efforts in successfully ending the deadlock between the Board and the Wanganui City Council over the steam plant. It was Mr Coates’ own personal proposals which were accepted by the parties, to mutual advantage. Already the wisdom of accepting these proposals has been proved, and already the success of the Board has exceeded all anticipations. In fact the success of the Power Board will date from the time Mr Coates took a personal hand iu the proceedings. ” Mr Purnell went on to speak of the policy of the Public Works _ Department. “During recent sessions and

• during the present election contest,” he said, “I have not heard one member 1 or one prospective member having the .courage to attack the Coates’ Public Works policy. It cannot be attacked, as it is built on sound business lines and commonsensc. ” Mr Glenn’s Welcome. Mr Glenn spoke very briefly, say ing that he wished on behalf of the i people of the Rangitikei district to assure the Prime Minister that they ‘ were very glad to see him in their ; midst. They regretted that he could not stay longer, but they knew that he was very busy and felt that he had done them an honour in making time • to take part in the afternoon’s cere- : mony. The laying of the foundation i stone of the new Post Office meant much to the district, for Marton was a busy centre, and it deserved the best facilities for the transaction of public business that the State could give. The people of the town and district appreciated the fact that the Govern- • meat was trying to meet their needs, ■ and they offered Mr Coates their best thanks and a hearty welcome. The New Site. The next speaker was Mr A. T. i Markman. He expressed pleasure at I uing present on an occasion which exemplified the progress of the Postal Department. There was something in the Mayor’s statement that Marton ' should have had its new building bc- , fort* the last election. The Postal Department made up its mind to erect ilie. new post office three or four years ago. when it was found that the additions which were needed could not be made to the present office, but the difficulty had been to find a site. The selection had been entrusted to him—• . he was a servant of the public and had •no politics—ami he believed he had

chosen the right place. It had been stated that a certain public man held land adjacent to the new site, but he could assure them that the first he had heard of that was a statement published after the decision had been made. The new Post Office, he believed would

be a boon to Marton, where the postal business had more than doubled in the last twelve or fifteen years. The Prime Minister. The Mayor then asked Mr Coates to lay the foundation stone. In opening his speech the Prime Minister said that he wished to thank His Worship for his kindly introduction. He had done his best with the Departments under his control, and he knew that he had not pleased everybody, nor would he try to do so; his aim was to administer his Departments so that the results would be of service to the community as a whole. There must be a plan of action aiming to meet the requirements of the country, and their public works should pay interest and sinking fund charges. So long as works of development did not load the people with a burden of overhead cost these works were justified for purposes of development. In the erection of public buildings and other developmental work this principle was adhered to. Mr Coates went on to say that a number of his friends declared that he was the man they must have as Prime Minister, but he would point oit that if the Prime Minister or any other Minister was to get things done he must have loyalty from those around him, both politicians and other workers. Healthy co-operation was essential, and they must have co-operation among members in Parliament. They would never get away from party government, but he believed they would get back to the two-party system, and that would be best for the country. In a young country like New Zealand, the Prime Minister remarked, they should think well ahead, and they should try to make their country attractive. That was why they were going in for the big power schemes. There had been some criticism of Mangahao, which was tho key scheme for the whole North Island. He could tell them that Mangahao was not a failure, for already they had let sufficient contracts to pay interest and sinking fund charges on the scheme. They would not look at a new scheme unless its finance was thus assured. They would not levy taxation on the public in order to complete any power scheme. When they had the whole of tho hydro-elec-tric undertakings in commission New Zealand would offer to both city and country people greater inducements ami attractions than any other country could offer. The Postal Service.

Mr Coates said that New Zealand had a very fine Civil Service —one of which the people should be very proud. Though hundreds of thousands of pounds were handled in a year by public servants, there were very few defalcations —a high tribute to the integrity and honesty of the State employees, who were drawn from all classes of the community. So far as the postal service was concerned, tho Prime Minister continued, New Zealand was able to enjoy the privileges of penny postage because the Postal Department was managed with business acumen. In the Post and Telegraph, the Public Works, and the Rail way Department thev had men who were always striving for improvement, aiming to give the public better service and to cut down the cost. The Postal Department was producing good results. In the five months ended on August 31 last, as compared with the corresponding period of last year, the postal revenue showed an increase of 7.48 per cent., telegraph 5.71 per cent, and telephone 6.9 per cent. Though penny postage was in force, he was certain that the receipts for this year would exceed those of last year. The Savings Bank figures were as good as the others. From January to August last year withdrawals exceeded deposits by some £300,000, but during the same period this year the excess of deposits was £730,000, which meant that the depositors were one million better off.

The Marton Post Office, Mr Coates added, was established on June 1, 1867, and the first building was erected by the Department in 1870. It was destroyed by fire in 1895. and the present building was put up in 1897. It was added to in 1920, but it was then recognised that the site was not large enough. Difficulty occurred over the question of a new site, but it was left to Mr Markman, and his decision was made on the merits of the case. No political nor private considerations in fluenced the decision in any matter of public work. There had been some further delay, but that was solely due to the fact that the draughting side of the Public Works Department was overworked. Asssistance was obtained, and now the work at Marton was in hand. They were to have a new style of building, and he believed it would be a great convenience to the public and to those who had to work in it. After exhorting the boys and girls present to have faith in New Zealand and remember that the people who lived under the British flag enjoyed the greatest opportunities of freedom, Mr Coates thanked Mr A. G. Bignell for his tender for the erection of the Post Office, saying that he knew Mr Bignell’s work and he was sure Marton would get a good job. The Builder. Mr Bignell said that the plans showed that Marton would have a very fine Post Office—one to be proud of, and second to none outside the main centres. Now Marton was being so well treated Wanganui would have to agitate for a new building. He was sure the Marton people would find that they had not lost, but rather gained through waiting for the building. He himself had been associated with the erection of various public buildings at Marton, and it would be a pleasure to have to do with the construction of the new Post Office. The Stone Laid Mr Bignell presented to the Prime Minister a very handsome silver trowel,

bearing a suitable inscription, and Mr Coates declared the stone well and truly laid. Cheers wore given for Mr Coates and the hearty singing of “For He’s a Jolly Good ‘ ” concluded the proceedings.