ARMY BUILDINGS

Grey River Argus, 11 January 1944, Page 6

ARMY BUILDINGS

IN NEW ZEALAND USE AS FACTORIES. AUCKLAND. J'an. 10. Details of a Government plan for the post-war utilisation of the many defence buildings, principally hospitals, stores depots and workshops, erected throughout New Zealand are being eagerly awaited, and it is suggested that the scheme may he so far-reaching as to have a most de•finite effect on the industry of the country aji.a whole. The number of buildings affected is not known, but it has been announcerd that in one class of structure alone there is over 5,000,000 square feet of space. First mention of a proposal by the Government to rent these buildings as factories was made by the Minister of Industries and Commerce, Mr D. G. Sullivan, at the Napier conference of the New Zealand Manufacturers' Federation in October He added that this scheme was then beincr examined by the Government, and that it was expected that within a few months a plan could be made available which would enable manufacturers to examine these facilities with a view to their ultimate use.

Regarded as most significant was a statement by the Minister that the outlook of the Government contemplated a more even distribution of industry throughout New Zealand in an effort to combat the present trend to centralisation at four or five main points. The plan would em-. body not only the distribution of manpower, but - would also take into consideration such problems as transportation and the location of raw materials. The plan would also permit an examination being made of unsatisfactory factory conditions, particularly in small industries, as far as buildings were concerned. Many of these defence buildings, particularly the stores units, have been erected in central positions and close to rail and road transport. Others, however, because of the tactical situation ruling at the time, were dispersed in smaller townships far from the more vulnerable areas. While this was sound policy when they were built, their isolation may be a distinct handicap to their suggested future use as factories. Erection of defence buildings commenced early in the war. but the programme was rapidly speeded up after the entry of Japan, until now there is a chain of buildings extending throughout the North Island in particular. While many of these are near seaports and large centres, there are also a great number in smaller inland townships. It is believed that the Government’s plan will cover not only the buildings erected for the New Zealand authorities, but also some structures for the use of Allied units. '