Power Board

Hutt News, Volume 13, Issue 22, 8 November 1939, Page 5

Power Board

SITE FOR NEW OFFICES NOT YET SELECTED

The Hutt Valley Electric Power Board, at its meeting last Thursday, decided to defer consideration of the site for its new offices till May of next year. In the mean, time it is to ascertain from an architect what temporary accommodation in the way of extensions to the present building on the Hutt Road can be provided with a maximum expenditure of £2000. After Mr. J. W. Andrews had moved a resolution that the question of Site be deferred till May, Mr. P. Dowse contended that :t would be a gross mistake to. erect a building of a size siich as was contemplated on the present site. They should follow the example of the people with more experience, and have their offices in the most suitable and convenient locality. Mr. W. Greig said he understood they were suffering from inefficiency through the condition of their present building and that the health of some of the employees nad been affected. He was in favour of the site. Supporting the resolution, Mr. S. Blackley said he was not altogether satisfied with the /present site When one looked at the sketch oi the fine building they proposed to build, one would think it was the residence of the President of the United States. The present was not the time to be spending a lot of money on large and palatial buj tilings like that. Extensions to the. existing building would give them all the accommodation they required till the war was finished.

It would be madness to go on with the building job in view of the figures that had been placed before them, said Mr. R. W. Bothamley.

A building such as was proposed should be in, a more prominent position, said Mr. R. G. Stephen.

"I think it is a reflection on our vision when we cannot make up our minds as to which is the best site," said the chairman, Mr. G. London. ' 'The Government gave us no direction as to curtailing our scheme, and 1 don't think we are going to be thanked very much if we stand back- in the meantime. I do not share the outlook of the members at the moment."

When the motion was carried, the engineer and general manager, Mr ; E. F. Hollands, expressed disappointment. and criticised tne present building. In winter it was an ice-box, and definitely affected the health of the staff, he said. The> could not get the necessary efficiency without adequate accommodation. "We would pay £10,000 above a reasonable price if we put up that building to-day," said Mr. Andrews.