Too Much Sun And A Leak

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30592, 7 November 1964, Page 3

Too Much Sun And A Leak

(Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON, November 6. Parliament today considered the problems of the Prime Minister’s office which gets too much sun on top and leaks at the bottom. The Minister of Works (Mr Allen) explained the source of the rainwater leak over the corridor outside the offices of the Minister of Finance. Mr W. W. Freer (Opp., Mount Albert) told the House that the bucket which catches the water was “a death-trap for constituents.” The Prime Minister, ex-

plaining the need for awnings outside his windows, said his office was a very hot place. Mr Freer dealt first with the leak and the bucket. “It is a real problem, especially as the Minister of Finance said this morning anyone who has overdraft problems can come and see him," he said. Speaking during debate on the Ministry of Works’ esti-

mates he said £39,000 was to be spent on the maintenance of Parliament Buildings—“but they can’t find the leak.” Mr Freer said that, for years, rooms in Parliament Buildings had been adequately numbered. But it had been decided to “do up” the numbers. “They didn’t just repaint them. Oh, no, they had to put up signs and change the numbers. “The place has become so complicated members can’t find their way to committee rooms.” Wooden sun awnings had been put up above windows in the Prime Minister’s suite on the fourth floor. Special scaffolding had been erected for the job. It had been taken down, then it was decided to do more work and the scaffolding put up again. Was this efficient working? Mr Freer asked. “Very Hot Place” Mr Holyoake said there was a sun break outside his window —“It’s a very hot place. “I think the break has been there ever since the Prime Ministers’ office was constructed.” The break had been extended from his office along the windows of his secretaries’ offices. It had been done

one week-end and, he thought, would not have cost much. “As soon as I became Minister I went looking for that leak,” said Mr Allen. He said there had been a flat roof on the building. The Prime Minister’s suite had been built over this roof, but when fire alarms were installed last year, someone drilled a hole in the old roof underneath the Prime Minister’s secretaries’ office. This let water leak from a channel across the old roof. “Repairs will be carried out early next year when the work will be the least inconvenient to the Prime Minister’s department,” said Mr Allen. Dr. A. M. Finlay (Opp., Waitakere) asked Mr Allen to obtain an estimate for the cost of air-conditioning the Chamber. The building was in use for more hours than most public buildings and it was most uncomfortable at this time of the year.