POSTAL FACILITIES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2672, 30 November 1909, Page 2

POSTAL FACILITIES.

DEPUTATION TO CHIEF POST- *

MASTER. \

A deputation from the local Chamber of Commerce, consisting of Messrs J. It. Kirk. F. W. Riach, J. W. J. Preston ana F. H. W. Traill (Secretary) waited 1 upon the Chief-Postmas-ter, Mr W H. ltenner, yesterday morning in reference to a number of'matters concerning the postal facilities of the town: The'first matter mentioned was'the insufficiency of pillar boxes, and it was urged that •additional conveniences of the kind should be provided in Whataupolco, Kaiti, Upper-Gladstone road, and Victoria Township. Each of-the speakers mentioned suitable sites and mention was also made of the inconvenient time of clearing the boxes at present prevailing—lo a.nr. In reply Mr Kenner stated that the deputation was evidently under some misapprehension, as the boxes were cleared both in the morning and afternoon. It had not been represented to him that tlie present hours of clearing were inconvenient, or that the number of boxes was insufficient. If it was made clear to him that there was a necessity for the establishing of extra boxes and for an alteration in the hours of. clearing them, ,there s would l>e no difficulty at all in the mattei. The mentioned was the regulation requiring senders of telegrams, etc., to affix the stamps themselves. It was pointed out that considerable delay to business' people and congestion in the Post Office was caused by the enforcement- of- this rule. Mr Renner said that the rule was being enforced everywhere. If, however; the business men of Gisborne as a whole found the practice to be objectionable, it was for them to make representations to be dealt with by the head office in Wellington. A suggestion in connection with shipping and mail facilities was then made, to the effect that any alterations in the sailing hours of the s.s. ~Tuatea froui the wharf to a boat in the roadstead should he posted up at the Post Office, adjoining the shipping reports near the letter boxes. Mr Kenner expressed himself as very willing to carry out the suggestion, and promised to forward a recommendation to Wellington that the suggestion be acted uj>on. The next matter mentioned by the deputation was in connection with a state of affairs that has long' proved a source of great inconvenience to many people, viz., the difficulty of obtaining anv information as to the time the steamer from Auckland is expected to arrive on a Sunday. Mr Preston explained that each Sunday morning he received intimation from East Cape as to what hour the vessel had passed that point, and that 6' hours after that time the boat might be expected to arrive in the bay. To post this information on the Shipping Co.’s Board might do very well for people in town, but often there were suburban and country residents who perhaps wished to meet the boat, and it was difficult for them to obtain any reliable information as. to the expected hour oF her arrival. He .suggested that as soon, as he . got. the-Information from East Cape oh Sunday mornings, that be should communicate with the telephone exchange and that the attendant might then be . permitted to inform any enquirers.by telephone. .Mr Renner pointed out that the regiilations' prevented' the' telephone attendants from giving any information. This was not because the Department was averse to the giving of such information. but in order to obviate any complaints which might be made by subscribers regarding inattention ana tardy replies from the exchange.- He, however, realised the importance of the matter and would communicate with the Wellington office on the matter to see if the regulation could be waived on account, of the unfortunate geographical position of Gisborne. - Mr Preston undertook to see that the information would be promptly supplied to the exchange if the reguest were •’ranted, and having thanked Mr Renner for his replies ? and expressed the satisfaction of business people generallv at the .working of the Gisborne Post Office; the deputation withdrew.