STATE OFFICES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 223, 20 September 1938, Page 5

STATE OFFICES.

ACCOMMODATION PLANS. IMPROVEMENTS PROPOSED. (By Telegraph.—Proee Association.) WELLINGTON, Monday. The question of providing adequate well - conditioned accommodation for State Department*, and their staffs was referred to by the Minister of Internal Affaire, the Hon. W. E. Parry, to-day. He had this morning inspected, $-ith the Commissioner of Pensions, Mr. H. Digby Smith, the offices of the Pensions Department. , The number of officers of that branch 9i the Public Service had been, he said, increased simultaneously with the Legislature'* extension of the pensions system. Although the men and women of the Department had not been many months in occupation of the present premises the space and conditions for the officers wore scanty and by no means up to the standard the Government wished for its employee.* to do their work. "I like to see men and women, whether in the employ of the Govern ment or of private concerns," Mr. Parrv said, "working in uncrowded, wellventilated and naturally lighted rooms. The reverse conditions are neither conducive to good work nor to good health. It is plainly laid down in the plans of the new Government buildings being or to be constructed that the epace provided shall meet not only present-day requirement*, but the needs of the future. That is. one of the chief reasons for the Government's plan for a Government centre in Wellington for its buildings." The Minister said efforts would be once again made to improve the accommodation of the Pensions Department.