THE STATE FIRE OFFICE.

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20899, 5 July 1933, Page 8

THE STATE FIRE OFFICE.

NEW CHRISTCHURCH BUILDING. IMMEDIATE ERECTION ' AUTHORISED. DECISION OF THE CABINET. [From Ocr. Own KEroJvran.l WELLINGTON, Jut.y 4. In accordance with its recently adopted policy of stimulating industry by the prosecution of important public works, the Cabin* \. has authorised immediate erection of the State Fire Office in Worcester street, Christchurch. In -making this announcement to "The Press" to-night, the ActingPrime Minister, the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, said that the Government would issue shortly a statement detailing the different public works which are to be undertaken and the amounts which are to be applied to each. The State Fire Office building will not, of course, be included among these, since it is the responsibility not of the Public Works Department, but of the State Fire Department. Mr Coates -indicated clearly that the Government has come round to the view that it should push ahead with public works wherever possible, but within reasonable limits, as a means of defeating the depression. It is understood that the new building in Christchurch will be put in hand as soon as possible.

THE FULL SCHEME. ANNOUNCEMENT TWO YEARS AGO. ACCOMMODATION FOR THREE DEPARTMENTS. Tenders for the erection of a new Government building, to accommodate the State Fire Oflicc, the Lands and Survey Department, and the Department of Agriculture, have been in the hands of the Government for 14 months. During that time the only indication that the- tenderers were given that the scheme had not been abandoned was that their deposit cheques, each of £SOO, were not returned to them. ' It is two years within a week since the first public intimation of the scheme was given. The three departments concerned, together with the Departments of Defence and Justice, are the only Government departments which have their Christchurch offices separate from the main block of buildings. Original Announcement. It was announced in "The Press" on July 11, 1931, that tenders were to be called for the erection of a modern six-storey building in Worcester street to house the three departments. The cost of the building, which was to be on the site occupied by the State Fire Office in Worcester street, to the east of the main block of Government buildings, was to be £50,000 or £60,000. The new building was to be of handsome design, constructed of concrete on a steel frame, with marble facings. Extending back a distance of about 80 feet from the footpath, it was to be deeper than the existing building, though the frontage was to be approximately the same. Official confirmation was given of these plans, and tenders were cabled for the work, the tenders closing in April, 1832. Opposition to the proposal came immediately from Dunedin building interests, which claimed that the new Dunedin Post Office, costing some hundreds of thousands of pounds, was the more important work and should be the first to be undertaken. Appeal from Builders. At a meeting on September 7 last the Canterbury Master Builders' Association decided to make representations to the Government to have the work gone on with, stating that £50,000 had been earmarked for the job and that the building was a real necessity rather than a luxury. It was contended that there was the greatest necessity for a safe building in which to house official records to prevent any chance of the city losing its records in a disaster such as the Hawke's Bay earthquake. Negotiations were stopped when the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes) assured a deputation from Dunedin that the Post Office there would be the first major construction gone on with, and reiterated this statement toward tee end of December. The present building on the site, into which the State Fire Office moved about four years ago, was originally occupied by the Dunlop Rubber Company. It has proved inadequate for the increasing work of the department, and even two years ago greater accommodation was needed. Lands and Survey Premises. Although it was intended more than 20 years ago, when the main block of the Government buildings was being planned, that the Department of Lands and Survey should occupy part of the new building, it was later found that there was not sufficient room. Consequently the department's offices have remained in the block of old wooden buildings adjoining the Provincial Council Chamber. These offices have for long been considered out of date and inadequate for the present work of the department. The protection they offer against fire and earthquake has also been considered insufficient. Because of increasing demands on the space of the main building the offices of the Department of Agriculture wuie shifted about two and a half years ago from the main block to Hallenstein's buildings at the corner of Cashel and High streets. The commencement of the undertaking, it was stated yesterday, will mean that there will be a considerable amount of work for the smaller men in the building industry, and for carpenters' and builders' labourers, as well as for the main contractors. The opinion was expressed that the general effect would be a brightening of the outlook at the time of the year when such a change was most welcome for the building industry in Christchurch.