BUILDING POLICY

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 54, Issue 190, 25 May 1934, Page 3

BUILDING POLICY

METHODS OF THE GOVERNMENT. REPLY AT DUNEDIN. (Per Press Association). " , " DUNEDIN, May 24. A reply to criticism by Mr Coates of the protest by the Dunedin Chanv : ber of Commerce against the Government spending mompy on large buildings was made to-day by Mr W. H. Brent (president of the chamber). "No doubt the Christchurch newspaper report made a short reference only to the resolution in regard to some aspects of the Government's building policy in the past," said Mr Brent. "Had Mr Coates seen the full test of the resolution and the reasons prompting the chamber to deal with the subject he could not reasonably have made, the comments reported as haying been made by him. There was no demand from the Dunedin public for a Public Trust building for the accommodation of their departments. The Dunedin post office, therefore, does not come into the discussion, for that building will not surely house any other tenant in addition to Government departments. In ihis connection a sub-committee was appointed from the Chamber of Commerce and other bodies, which went fully into the matter and sent a depiitation to Wellington, urging a modified building which would effect a saving of £IOO,OOO, but the Government had' drawn plans which it refused to modify. .•: "The chamber considers it a matter of policy that the Government should not use public moneys for the purpose of housing other than Government departments. In February, 1932, the view now' taken by the Chamber of Commerce was conveyed to the Prime Minister, who said the matter would receive consideration. The State stands behind all Government departments,, therefore, in my opinion, the surplus profits of profit-making departments belong to the people. It may be that the Public Trust and State Fire Insurance Departments decide their own building policies. If so* it is time such policy should be stopped. There is no doubt which is the more necessary—a £60,000 to £BO,OOO State Fire Insurance office in any town, or a public hospital. But the more money we freeze unnecessarily in building the greater difficulty is there in financing ouiv hospitals."