SOCIAL SECURITY BUILDING

Greymouth Evening Star, 7 February 1939, Page 5

SOCIAL SECURITY BUILDING

UNIONS ACCEPT SPEED-UP

[per press association.]

WELLINGTON, February C.

The following report was supplied by Mr. I’. M. Butler on behalf of i.he press committee of the Wellington Trades and Labour Council. consisting of Messrs. F. p. Walsh, Butler, and J. Moulton: —

“A combined meeting, of building trades unions was held yesterday in the Trades Hall, and was presided over by the president, of the Wellington Trades and Labour Council (Mr. F. P. Walsh). The meeting discussed matters arising out of the intention of the Government to erect temporary premises for the Administration of the Social Security Act, on

Aotea quay. The meeting was addressed by the Minister for Labour (Hon. P. C. Webb), who gave an. assurance on behalf of the Government that if it. were found necessary to make any departure from the present awards in connection with emergency work to be performed, such departure would not be taken as a precedent, and that the workers would be amply safeguarded against the establishing of any such, precedent. “Representatives of various unions also addressed the meeting. The meet-

ing assures the Government of 100 per cent, co-operation in the erection of the building in the. shortest possible time, and in any case in time for the inauguration of the Social Security Act. on April 1. “Representatives of the various building trades unions, together with representatives of the Trades and Labour Council, are to meet representatives of the Government and to complete details of wages and conditions for the erecting of the premises. Arrangements are already in hand for the carrying out of the decisions of the meeting, and representatives of the unions will meet representa-

tives of the Government almost immediately. “This is the only official statement made in. connection with the meeting, and anything, which appeared before this is absolutely unofficial,’’ concludes the report. “A statement published Ulis’ morning is incorrect when it says that opinions were expressed that the present Government housing scheme could be greatly improved and speeded up under anoextension of the contract-letting system.”

NEW PLANS PREPARED.

WELLINGTON, February 6

It is announced by Hon. R. Semple that, as the result of collaboration between his engineers, Government architects and engineers of (he Fletcher Construction Company, the whole of /the constructional details of a new Social Security building have been completed. This had necessitated continuous working since Friday on the part of a very large staff, and it reflected great credit on those concerned.

“One of the lessons we had to learn from the destruction of the previous building was the danger of fire, and. in the construction of the new building the fire hazard will be reduced to an absolute minimum,” said Mr. Semple. “The three blocks are so designed as to be entirely separate, with fire walls between each block. The whole of the. outer walls will be lined with fire-resisting materials and plaster! will be placed on top of these materials. The inner walls -also will be similarly lined while, to prevent the spread of fire from one block to another. in the light, areas, it is proposed. to use steel sashes and wired glass. The roof will be constructed of corrugated asbestos roofing. Even in the remote case of fire, there will be no possibility of the fire spreading, as There’will be no adjacent building.”