STATE DEPARTMENTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22030, 9 February 1935, Page 15

STATE DEPARTMENTS

OFFICES IN AUCKLAND NEW BUILDING PROMISED QUESTION OF A SITE In conformity with undertakings given in the last Budget and Public Works Statement, it is understood that plans are being prepared by the Government Architect for a Targe office building in Auckland to house Government departments which at present occupy out-of-date or rented premises. The Minister of Finance, the Rt. Hon. .T. G. Coates, in the course of his Budget speech, made the iollowing reference to the matter:—"Now that financial commitments on major works generally are becoming lighter, it is proposed to commence the erection of new administrative blocks of buildings to house Government departments in Wellington and Auckland. The present Government buildings are old and the accommodation is quite inadequate. In fact, the amount now being paid by way of rent for additional accommodation would probably be sufficient to pay interest and sinking fund on the capital cost of new buildings to house all departments., "The gain in convenience to the public and administrative efficiency would be considerable. In addition to proceeding with these works, the carrying-out of other necessary building-works is considered by the Government as economically sound, quite apart from the associated immediate benefits that will accrue in acceleration of employment in the various trades concerned. . As it will be some time before construction work can bo started, very little expenditure on these projects will be involved this linancial year." The Present Situation This intimation was followed by a reference in the Public Works Statement. The Minister, the Hon. J. Bitchener, said instructions had been issued to his department to prepare plans for the new buildings. This work would necessarily occupy some time, and no provision for construction had therefore been made on the current year's estimates. Mr. Coates' description of the present. housing of Government departments correctly represents the position in ijiuckland. It is true that many of them are grouped in two buildincs owned by the Government and others have buildings of their own. However, there is a large residue scattered fairly widely abouft the business area. Some of these are in commodious rented quarters, bub others are uncomfortably housed in State-owned buildings tliat cannot be described as up to date. The largest group is to be found in the Custom House building, the exterior of wliich had lately been renovated. This houses the Cnstoms, Lands and Survey, Public Works, Marine, Inspection of Machinery and Audit Departments and the district Treasury office. The Law Court Building, in High Street, is the home of the Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages; the Electoral and Passport Offices, the Official Assignee, State Forest Service, and Mines, Land and Income Tax, State Advances and Valuation Departments. Bented Premises In the old post office in Shortland Street are the State Fire Insurance Office, the Labour Department and the National Provident Fund. The Government Life Insurance building in Queen Street accommodates also the Tourist Bureau and the Central Itailway Booking Office In the annexe to the Wellesley Street post office are the Pensions Department and the Child Welfare branch of the Education Department.

Departments with buildings of their own are the Public Trust Office in Albert Street, the Land and Deeds ltegistry in Courthouse Lane and the Native Department in Emily Place. This Defence: Department is at the Drill Hall. -Rented premises in Anzac Avenue are occupied by the Departments of Health and Agriculture. The Stamp Department and .Companies Registry are in li; rented building in Courthouse Lane and the Government Analyst is in High Street. This scattering of offices hinders communication between departments and also inflicts some waste of time on the public, especially in locating a particular department on a first visit. Some Possible Sites From the announcement that plans will take a year or so to prepare, it may be assumed that the new office ■block will be quite a large building. Where it will be placed can only be conjectured. One not unlikely site is part of the old railway station property between Cusitoms Street East and Quay Street. In loading this, a considerable space was reserved immediately behind the.chief post office for future extensions to the latter. The Government may possibly have decided to erect such an annexe and use it for accommodating various State departments until it in required by the Post and Telegraph Department. The remainder of the property has been subdivided for disposal in building sections, but the Government may have decided, alternatively, to use some of these. Another possibility is that the old post office in Shortland Street may be demolished and the site used. Here a fine building with two frontages could be erected if the whole property were occupied. However, negotiations have long been in train with the City Council for setting apart a strip of the laud for a much-needed street to bypass Queen Street traffic. With this deduction the site would not be so suitable. >