EXTENSIONS TO BUILDINGS.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 19971, 4 July 1930, Page 18

EXTENSIONS TO BUILDINGS.

CITY ELECTRICITY DEPARTMENT. OFFICIAL OPENING. The recently completed extensions, on the Manchester street frontage, of the Municipal Electricity Department's premises were formally opened lapt night in the presence of a numerous gatherings of members of tho City Council and representative citizens. The new demonstration and lecturo room, on tie ground floor, in which the function was held, was artistically decorated. The function was presided over by Cr. H. T. J. Thacker, chairman of the Electricity Committee, and with him Oh the platform were the Mayor (Mr J. K. Archer), the Town Clerk (Mr J. 8. Neville), Cr. E. H. Andrews (chairman of the Finance Committee), 3ft A. McKcllar, a former chairman of thA Electricity Committee, and Mr E. Hitchcock, general manager of the Municipal Electricity Department. In remembrance of the late Cr. P. W. Sharpe, one-time chairmau of the Electricity Committee, and of the late Cr. JY B. Cooke, those present stood whilo Mr B. D. Adams sang "Requiem." the chairmnn said that they were present to take a step forward. The AdVaUce made by the M.E.D. was nothing short of marvellous. The deJ>ath»ent had no hidden profits, and verything in the balance-sheet was and above-board. The Mayor ''like an old uncle" as far as the department was concerned, and would like to spring on it; he (the M4y6r) Said that the profits belonged to tße City, but the City was not paying interest on the moneys it had hypothe-cated—-he would not say stolen! (Laughtit.) He congratulated Mr Hitchcock anfl his staff on the manner in which

til 4 department is conducted. Tho Mayor warmly congratulated ilK}9B who had taken part in the development of the Department. There jjMui -a theory abroad that nothing that belonged to the municipality or to the g&lJrttry could be well-managed, but ne;did not believe that there was any business of any kind in New Zealand - that was better managed than the Municipal Electricity Department (Applause.) At the conclusion .of the Mayor's mark*-the room was darkened. ■. Joe, chairman: I have pleasure in wßcltoiiiK these rooms open. As was Mia.in Genesis: "Let there be light 1" , (laughter.) j Th# room was then brilliantly iliumloftted. vMr .Arnaud McKellar said that though ,»o longer a City Councillor he ttill took considerable interest in tie-work of th«* Electricity Committeo. When bo was chairman lie had been SOftlitiate in assisting the committee 16 select Mr Hitchcock as the general fajanacor of the Department. He extorbeaed gratification with the proposal §6 wed lJdCr Hitchcock round the world to pick up new ideas. It was jUaaing to see the Council erecting the n£w building, and in doing so jjo' only adding to the ralue of their OjCft nroperty. but doing it at the right time. When times were bad the l>enartinent should spend money to Enable the unemployed to get work at fbir wages. Cr. Andrews 6aid that on looking ibtmd those Enplendid rooms he had thought of wn&t a lot of money they JiaiJ cost. He did not begrudge money when it was as veil spent and ,he believed that it had been .< well ifwot in this case. 0"I want to shake hands with Mr Hitchcock on behalf of the City," said tfti chairman when calling on the general manager to speak. 1 Mr Hitchcock said that extensions ef the premises of the Department had It. different significance to the staff than to outsiders. The officers of the Department bad the very greatest Mil faction from the sympathetic Understanding their ideas received from the members of the Flectricity jCtotnmittee. It was. he remarked, exactly » year next week since the plans of the extensions were approved by the Council. On Messrs Battersby flUd Marriner the burden and heat of the job had fallen, and they had done l&ii* work very ably. The extensions indioated that the joint work of a Htlttber of people had been blessed iritii •one measure of sncoess. In the oourae of the evening vocal aid other items were given by Mrs Wtmams, Mrs I>. B. Puddey, Messrs Bjwrt Rodgera, J. Filer, and, R. The accompammenta for the wMtiate were played by Mrs Clifton Megs and Mr A. M. Owen. Stipper was provided, after which the * waa IQ3 P and there was