NEW HOME

Evening Star, Issue 23825, 4 March 1941, Page 3

NEW HOME

GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS LAND AND DEEDS BUILDING OCCUPIED Well over two years ago work was started on renovation and alteration in the building which was once devoted to the Lands and Deeds Department, in Lower High street. This is now practically completed, and several Government departments are settling in or have settled. Six of them will be housed there, three on each floor.' The bottom floor has been occupied by the Marine Department, which changed over from Vogel street. Their portion of the building is entered from Dunbar street, the narrow street running parallel to Cumberland street. The Mines Department has occupied the rooms facing High street, and the National Service Department, comprising the State placement and employment divisions, is to shift once more, this time to occupy the remainder.

The top floor will be occupied by the Government laboratories, the Housing Construction Department, and the inspector of machinery. The laboratories will have increased space for their labours. The inspector of machinery is for some reason lost in the dim mistiness of the past, a Marino Department official, and, therefore, his location in this building is natural. The building actually is more spacious than its appearance indicates. The time taken on the job has been broken, the outbreak of war delaying its completion. The renovations have, however, been continued as opportunity offered. They involved considerable alteration, but the finished job is quite in keeping with most other Government offices

Modern refinements inclpde a central healing plant, and the offices are comfortable and well lighted. The agglomeration of Government offices which was once forecasted as a direct result of building the Post Office is proceeding, but its course would have to he rapid to make headway on the rate at which new departments are being formed and old ones extended.