BUILDING FINISHED

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 19893, 22 March 1939, Page 11

BUILDING FINISHED

SOCIAL SECURITY BLOCK ItECORD CONSTRUCTION OPENING NEXT MONDAY (l'er Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this clay. In the early hours of February 2, the partially-completed four-storeyed wooden building in Aitken street which was to house the new Social Security Department, was totally destroyed by fire. Later in the same day a start, was made in clearing a silo on Aotea quay oil which to construct y new building. Construction work commenced on February 7 On Monday aflernoop next the new building will be officially opened by the Prime Minister, the Rt Hon. M. J. Savage. That, in brief, u-' th« story of a remarkable achieve- | ment in building construction. The | claim is made that the speed at which the building war, constructed is y record tor Australia and New'Zealand, That claim probably can h» fully substantiated. It may even be a world record, but lhos<> iu charge of the job are not making that claim ;it present. To-day. a little over seven weeks after the work of construction was actually commenced, the Social So- | curity Building stands practically ready for occupation. All lha' remains to be done is to add a few finishing touches and install the office fittings and furniture. j Mr. J. J. Craig, a director of the Fletcher Construction Company, who is in charge of the job, was asked yes- j terday if tile building would be ready | by Monday. "Easily," he replied. "A small r.oction of the end of the building is being laid out for gardens and lawns, and this, too, will be practically ready , by Monday." j