NOT ACCEPTABLE

Waikato Times, Volume 119, Issue 18898, 29 May 1936, Page 6

NOT ACCEPTABLE

i GARDEN PLACE SCHEME. i l l ! i SITE FOR NEW POST OFFICE. i I ‘ POSTMASTER-GENERAL‘S \‘lE\\'S. i i A definite Indication that he was not prepared to consider the exchange 'the old Courthouse site for land In the Garden Place area. beyond Alexandra Street frontloe, as the site for the proposed new chief post office for Hamil- ‘ ton, was given by the PostmasterGeneral, the Hon. F. Jones, when he was approached yesterday by a deputation from ‘the Hamilton Borough Council. Mr Jones made It clear that his department would not consent to the poet omee being taken at? the main street. The deputation comprised the deputy-Mayor, Mr 11. D. Caro, the chairman of the works committee, Mr H. .\l. Hammond, and .\lessrs. J. Tidd. R. VVoriey (borough engineer), and W. L. \Vaddel (town cleark). Outlining the council‘s views on the new DOSt ollice question. .\ir Hammond said the council had a definite feeling that there was a need {or a central—islng influence in Hamilton as it was felt that there was a drift towards the north, with the result that the Ipresent post office was at what might be termed the dying end of the town. There was the possibility that within ‘25 years, the Courthouse site would he in the same position, and it was thought that ii' the Garden Place re—moval scheme were consummated, the centre of the town would he more or less ilxed. Mr Hammond added that the council did not wish to throw the respon—sibility of determining the site for the new post omce on the PostmasterGeneral or his department, but they asked, that, if all things were equal from the department‘s point of view. and if it was the definitely expressed opinion of the ratepayers. the new post lomce should be erected on the Garden Place site. Before they could do lanything, the council had to go before the ratepayers with a scheme. and the speaker asked for a definite indication from the Postmaster—General that he would agree to the proposed exchange ‘Ol sites it the ratepayers sanctioned it. The council was anxious to reach ltlnality and wanted the .\linister‘s co- ; operation. Gentraiialnq the Town. Mr Caro spoke on similar lines, and contended that the town had shown is. tendency for several years to drift north. Unless the town was centraliscd this move must leave a dead end, and it' something on these lines were not done, the southern end of the itown would become the dead end. |This would leave those with property tand businesses there high and dry. Although he had a business at the south end of the town, he felt that it was necessary in the interests of the [town as a whole, to stabilise the centre. l Concerning the post office site. Mr Caro felt that the area suggested by ithe council offered greater freedom or access. lie suggested that the new post office should have a flat roof, to provide for aeroplanes, which hesconsidored. must come as a transport service. if the post oilice were erected ion the old Courthouse site he thought ltraiilo congestion would he aggravated. . A large scale plan of the Garden iPlacc scheme was used by Mr Woriley in explaining the advantages of the ‘Garden l’lace site from the point of View or rclicring traffic congestion. He added that the council was quite prepared to meet the department‘s wishes in the mater of lay-out and de--5151]. Air Tidd emphasised that the proposed site on Garden Place would be central. lie mentoned that land on the . lGarden Place side of Victoria Street‘ had been sold for £4OO a foot. com—i pared with £IOO on the opposite site. { i Remarklng that he had followed the iGarden Place, controversy very closely.‘ 1311- Jones said his department did not vicw with favour the proposal to erect ‘the post oiilce beyond Alexandra Street. They were prepared to go across the road from the Courthouse site, but as it had been stated that land on one side had sold at £4OO a foot, and on the Courthouse side at £IOO, he did not suppose that the council would exchange a frontage to the main street. However. his department was anxious to get on with the scheme and if the council was prepared to offer a main street frontage they would accept it. lie added that it people had paid £4OO a root for land in the Vicinity of the hill they evidently had the opinion that they would he in the main street. Present site Suitable. The speaker said his officers had told him they could erect a modern post office on the Courthouse site. and could overcome any dimculties which might exist. The question or removillg the hill was one for the council, and he thought the council could put up a good case for this. However, if their was going to he a dispute reaarding the post nillcc site, the Dcparlmrnl would sit hack, and no post oi‘ilrc would be erected. ’l‘hc Department (lid not want to ask the people to go all the way back to Alexandra Street to gel to the post (”fire hut rather, they desired that it should lie on the main street. lie was quite satis—ilrd with the Courihunsc site. hut was prcpurcd to go across the road it a main street. frontage, were given there if the town could settle its differences in this connection he would like to approve a grant for the post office, and get on wilh the Joli, “ i think your decision will he against the intrrcsts of thr- great majority of tho people in the town," commented .\ir \Vorlcy. "i am very sorry in disappoint you. but that is the position as my Dillrcrs and 1 son ii.“ replied .\lr .itllli‘.\'_ in .tnsnt‘t‘ In Mr 'l‘irid. he. said he was prepared in meet :I drputution from tho rounrii in \\'cilingtnn, in a fort~ night. , fl 7777 7,7