DEPARTMENT OFFICES.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 128, 6 July 1914, Page 8

DEPARTMENT OFFICES.

ALTERATIONS TO THE NEW GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS.

The report of the Public Service Commissioner contains, amongst the appendix, a report of the Office Accommodation Board, on the Government buildings in Christchureh, which are referred to as follows':— The board visited Christehurch in September of last year, and made an examination of (1) the new Government buildings, (2), the old Provincial buildings, and -(3) the Post Office buildings.

Prior to the visit of the board, a tentative allotment of the rooms had been made ,jii. the new building. An inspection of the plan showed that no accommodation had been provided in it for the Old Age Pensions, Agriculture, Lands and' Survey, and Lands and Deeds Departments-—or a total of 70 officers. It was also evident that the allotment of the offices which had taken place was based upon the original requisitions for accommodation made by Departments prior to the erection of the building, aad had not been subjected to an independent analysis. For example, in the case of one Department, accommodation of a total of over 2000 superficial feet, comprising five rooms, had been set apart for a staff of four officers. It was also evident that the convenience of the public had not been fully considered, as certain Departments with whom a large number of the public were in daily touch) were located on the upper floors of the building. As a result of the inspection of the buildings (new and old), the board was able to, subject to some structural alterations in the new building, arrange for the accommodation of the Old Age Pensions, Agriculture, and Lands and Survey Departments.

In reallotting the offices regard has been specially paid not only to the present but to the prospective requirements, and attention has been given as far as possible to the convenience of ,the public.

Provision has been made in the new buildings for placing a room at the disposal of the Public Service Association —for a library and a luncheon room — and also a retiring room for the convenience of the women employed in the building. ,

The "board also directed that particular attention should be given to the protection of the walls of the new building, and the cleaning of the rooms occupied by the-various officers. It has been arranged that all notices which may be required to be posted for the information of the public, either in the rooms or in the corridors, shall be done in .a fitting manner and ojx ' suitable boards, and also that all notices shall be removed when they become obsolete. It has been suggested in the refurnishing of any new building that the question of reasonable standardisation of the furniture should be taken into accqrtmt.