STATION 1ZB

Greymouth Evening Star, 7 November 1939, Page 4

STATION 1ZB

NEW BUILDING ESSENTIAL.

WELLLNGTON, November 6. The reasons why the Government had decided to erect a new building in Auckland to house the commercial broadcasting station there were given last evening by the Acting-Minister in charge of Broadcasting (Mr. Jones), when his attention was drawn to criticism of the project by the Leader of the Opposition (Mr.. Hamilton). The Health Department, said Air. Jones, bad been persistent in its representations that the building at prest.iil occupied by IZB was un.-.iriluo‘.e and unfit for occupation. Various Improvements had been made from the health point of view: but. eveii "ith

'these, the building was not up to the; standard required by the Health Department. The broadcasting authori-j: ties were, therefore, compelled to ■ tent a suitable building, or alternatively to purchase or erect a new one. There was no e?capc from this course.

Every endeavour, was' first made to. find, suitable alternative aecommoda-j :tion, without . success. • The site on 'which'.tho ndw Milding,' was •• to- be erected was valuable, ind.it had been decided to build a four-storey • struc-, ture. The two top storeys, however.

would be used bj r other State departments. . “It is interesting.” remarked Mr. Junes,” to find that the Leader of the Opposition is a new convert .to the* Government’s policy of erecting houses for the people."