BRANCH POST, TELEGRAPH AND MONEY ORDER OFFICE.
A Deputation consisting of Mr Macintosh MP, Mr Clark (manager of the English Scottish and Australiai Chartered Bank) and Mr Alexander Ogilve waited upon the Postmaster General (the Honorable J. Davies) yesterday morning to present a numerously signed memorial praying for the establishment of a branch post, telegraph and money order office in the neighbourhood of the Town Hall or in the vicinity of Pitt and Park streets where new premises were about to be erected. The memorial set forth that a large number of important businesses were now located in and around this central district of the city; that they transacted an extensive postal and telegraphic business with the country and the neighbouring colonies and that it would be of great convenience to them and a saving of time to the public generally if the branch post telegraph and money order office were established.
Mr Ogilvie read the memorial and explained that it was signed bv numerous business people in the immediate locality of the Town Hall and that the growing interests ot the district made the establishment of a post, telegraph and money order office in the neighbourhood a matter of great importance.
Mr Clark said that in Melbourne the Central telegraph station was connected with the post office as here and there was a branch telegraph office similar to that now asked for. Seeing the extensive interests that had arisen in the locality of Park and Pitt Steets, the establishment of a post, telegraph and money order office there was a very important matter. For instance, nearly all the building societieswere in the neighbourhood and such an office would be of the utmost convenience to them. Then it would be of great convenience also to the banks that were being opened there and to the civic authorities at the Town-Hall. Suitable premises were about to be built at the corner of Park and Pitt Streets; but the memorialists did not wish to bind the Postal Department to any particular premises.
Mr. Macintosh said it was patent to everone that since the city business had been taken to the new Town-hall, there could be no question that the value of property m the locality had increased and a 1arge amount of business was now done in that part of the city. An increase of trade required an increase of public accommodation
Mr Davies said that as far as the Postal Department was concerned, he was sure it was actuated (sic) by a desire to afford the greatest facility to the public that was possible, and the representations contained in the memoral would be submitted to the proper office, who would report upon them; and if the Department found that it could concede to the public what was asked - if it found that the public convenience would be served, and that the amount of business likely to be done at the branch office would justify its establishment, the department would be in a position to comply with the wish of the memorialists. But as the rent of the premises would be about £250 a year, the salary for the postmaster £l50 a year, the salary of an operator £104 a year, the salary of a messenger £25 a year (at the very lowest estimate), an allowance for fuel and light £20 a year and incidentals £10 a year, making something like £600 a year additional expense, the department could not establish the office unless the public convenience and the amount of business done would justify it in entailing the extra expense. However, if, after he had received a report upon the matter from a competent officer, he found the department would be justified in going to this expense, he would be only too happy to comply with the wishes of the deputation. As far as the postal arrangements were concerned, he did not think the branch office would be of great advantage, because a letter receiver at the corner of the street would be of as much convenience as a post office but a money order office or savings bank and a telegraph office were very important. The business done with them had grown very much during the last few years and the greater the facilities afforded the more business would be transacted.
Mr Ogilvie remarked that many telegrams were sent by race people and others who were generally located in Pitt Street.
Mr Macintosh considered that the establishment of the branch office would lessen the traffic on our narrow streets by giving many people an opportumty of going to the branch office instead of to the General Post Office. Branch offices would become highly necessary in a very short time.
Mr Davies had no doubt that a branch telegraph office and money order office would increase the business but he must get the proper report upon the subject before anything else could be done.
Hie deputation thanked the Minister for his courtesy and withdrew.
The Park Street Post and Telegraph Office with money-order facilities and a government savings bank was opened on 20 May 1878. On 1 September 1899, is was removed to and changed its name to Queen Victoria Markets and then, on 1 May 1918, to Queen Victoria Building.