OVERCROWDED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 31, 6 February 1937, Page 13

OVERCROWDED.

STATE OFFICES. POSITION IN AUCKLAND. PROBLEM OF ACCOMMODATION Tlicro lins lo 11 rr been <x iioccl of ernment departments in Auckland, and the problem li:is grown with the greater amount of work and larger stall's involved by the extension of various Government schemes. The fact that it was recognised that the conditions lit i the. Auckland ollice of the Pensions Department were very cramped was mentioned in a statement made by the Commissioner of Pensions, Mr. H. I Digby-Smith. I The position has been helped a little by the transfer of one or two Dep.irtI merits to new buildings. Thus the State

Advances Corporation has been moved from High Street to Civic House, which J.as resulted in greater accommodation being available for various Departments both in High Street and in the Government Buildings, Customs Street. The Lands and Income Tax Department, which was formerly confined to two back rooms in the High Street premises, will now occupy the rooms used until the recent transfer to Civic House by the State Advances Department. The ollieial change-over will be made on Momlay. Since taking over the employment tux work the number of inspectors has been increased from fo;ir to seven. The new offices are being renovated and will provide much better' facilities for the public, particularly in that there will be nine rooms. The average person prefers to discuss business of a confidential nature in a private room and not in one where there may l,e two or three inspectors and applicants seated at different tables.

As the State Advances Corporation line taken over all mortgages, including the discharged soldier settlement niortonges, a number of clerical workers have been transferred from the Lands Department, which formerly dealt also with mortgages. A number of rooms hive thus been made vacant at the oiliecs of the Lands .Department in • Customs Street. Child Welfare Transfer. The Child Welfare Department lias been moved from the iirfit floor of the WeUesley Street post oflice building to the first floor of Paykcl's Building, Anzac Avenue. In this case, it is reported the space in the Wellesley Street post oilicc was required by the telephone branch of the post olllco. Another Department which is reported to lie experiencing difficulty with accommodation is that of the l'lililic Works. It is understood that the matter is being considered by the accommodation board in Wellington. Complaint is often made by the public of the inconvenience caused by the [Departmental offices in Auckland being scattered over the city, and the question is raised as to which offices will be housed in the eight-storey building which the Government proposes to build on the old post office site in Shortlamt Street It is understood that plans for the proposed building are being prepared in Wellington, but there- is no indication when the work will begin. The newlink roadway to connect Shnrtlnnd Street I with Fort Street across .lean Batten j Place will not be constructed until the i proposed new Government block adjoining is completed.