SOCIAL SECURITY

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 151, 23 December 1938, Page 11

SOCIAL SECURITY

DEPARTMENT'S HOME

AITKEN STREET BUILDING

OTHER NEW OFFICES

Almost since the construction work reached a stage when is became readily noticeable, there has been conjecture as to which of the State Departments would be accommodated in the big wooden building being erected for the Government in Aitken Street, off Molesworth Street, by the Public Works Department. It was suggested several months ago, at the time when the social security measure was a live topic, that the new Department created as a result of the legislation would; probably be housed in this building. The surmise is correct- The Social Security Department is to have its offices there and also the head office of the Health Department, which is at present accommodated in the Parliamentary Library building. According to an announcement made some weeks ago, however, when the plans for the extension of the State Fire and Accident Insurance building in Lambton Quay were announced, it is not intended that the Social Security Department shall remain permanently in occupation of a section of the wooden building in Aitken. Street. It was stated at that time that ultimately the extension to the State Fire building would provide accommodation for the Social Security Department. A BIG BUILDING. One wing of the new wooden building in Aitken Street is now nearing completion, and the wing at the other end is well under way. These two wings are three storeys in height, and there is a section in the centre which rises.to a height of four storeys, the result being that the roof line is not straight, but has the appearance of a large-size "E." The men engaged on the job are concentrating on the ground floor portion of the structure, and it is hoped that the work will be far enough advanced to permit of some of the building at least being available for occupation by the beginning of February. The State Fire extension will be along the Lambton Quay and Stout Street frontages. The contract for the addition was let to the Fletcher Construction Co., Ltd., last month, and it is proposed to make a' start with the preliminary work early in the New Year. The contract provides for the completion of the building in fifteen months' time. Those in the Government service and others with a contact with various State Departments know well the difficulties under which some sections work through lack of accommodation. In the past three years or so much has been done to ease the situation, and when the buildings at present in course of construction and other building work contemplated are completed the position will be still further improved. NEW OFFICES FOR TAXES DEPARTMENT. At the present time alterations are being made to the interior of what has come to be known as the "tomato house," the long two-storey building erected for the Base Records Office as "a war-time expedient, between the big wooden Government building in Lambton Quay and the Justice Department block. The Land and , Income Tax Department, which has occupied the upper storey of this building, is moving out* making available as a result about 38,000 square feet of floor space, which is to be occupied by self-contained branches of some of the Government Departments which are at present badly off for accommodation. . The Land and Income Tax Department is transferring to the Ford building, near the St. James Theatre, in Courtenay Place. This is being converted into suitable offices for the Department, and taxpayers will be interested to learn that on the ground floor ample provision has been made for them to pay their. taxes in February next. Counter accommodatibn in the "tomato house" was poky, to say the least of it,, but in the new quarters to be occupied by the Department in the Ford building there is a very smart, up-to-the-minute counter, with eight partitions, a nice show of polished woodwork, and plenty of glass to ■■ screen one section from the others. '[ It has been suggested that taxpayers will be "tickled to death" to, disgorge at such a fine counter, but .that is very doubtful. At any rate, the air of spaciousness about the new quarters will be a welcome change from the small office in the other building. The occupancy by the Health Department staff of new offices in the; wooden building in Aitken Street will Imake available rooms at present dccv- : pied by them in the Parliamentary ■Library building. It is said, althoughn Library buildang. It is said, although not officially, that these will be taken possession of by the Clerk of the House, and that provision may be made there for rooms for members of Parliament to receive deputations and so on during the session.