CITY ENGINEER’S DEPARTMENT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 289, 7 December 1939, Page 12

CITY ENGINEER’S DEPARTMENT

STAFF ACCOMMODATION OLD BUILDING IS TO BE RENOVATED INSURANCE MONIES AND £251) TO BE SPENT Rennovation of the fire-damaged city engineer’s department building to accommodate the city engineer’s staff and city inspectorate was decided on by the Wanganui City Council last night. The decision was unanimous and was arrived at by adopting a report of a sub-committee set up when | the council decided last week to defer i a suggested £20,000 loan proposal to build new municipal buildings. I The committee reported as follow: ["The city engineer and the architect, Mr. Taiboys, have submitted a plan lof suggested improvements to be effected when the work of reinstating the building is being carried out. They have conferred with the contractors and the cost of the proposed improvements above the insurance claim received is £237. The committee recommends the council to give its approval to the scheme, together with an expenditure of approximately £l3 to provide cupboards in the caretaker’s quarters.” The Best Alternative "I feel this is the best alternative said the Mayor, Mr. W. J. Rogers, moving that the damaged building be reinstated in terms ot the committee’s report. “It has been given very full attention, has not been rushed and other avenues have been explored. If the old gas offices in Ridgway Street are to be thought of it will be next September before the Government vacates them. I believe that what I am proposing is the best thing to do in the meantime. Assuming that the issue is submitted to the ratepayers in 1941 and the erection of new municipal buildings agreed upon, it will be all of two years before much can be done. I am not going to use the phrase ‘hope for the best,’ but will await the march of progress of our city. I am satisfied if we left it for another 12 months and had the many architects and engineers, they could not evolve a better plan of how to go about renovating the building ' than that placed before us by the city I engineer (Mr. L. F. Row) and the architect (Mr. R. G. Taiboys).” Cr. D. W. Karie seconder! ihe Mayor's motion. Committee Complimented “I want to compliment the committee on the work it has put into this matter,” said Cr. .1. Siddells. “There will be a sigh of relief to-morrow morning when it is known that it has been decided to recondition the old building with the money we have in hand from the insurance, with a small additional amount. I compliment the committee on bringing down this report in face of the criticism at last meeting." Cr. G. E. Bennett, who was a member of the committee, said that it ha:t been thought to use the old o-as office, but that will not be vacant. '“ Cr. G. E. Bennett, who was a member of the committee, said that it had been thought to use the old Gas Office, but that will not be vacant lor - months. In addition, the cost of putting that building in order for the engineer’s staff could be as much as would be required lor the present building. Other buildings had been examffied but, what with rent and lo« of rates from the property taken over it would run the cuncil into a sum getting near to £4OO a year Spread over four year that would mean H6OO. H was possible now. seeihnt ihp work of building the Waiouru camp had been finished, that the renovations could be put in hand at once and finished in six weeks. “It is not fair to the staffs to ask them to carry on like they are, Ci. Ben neg added. was opinion that the decision of the committee wig a • rs Ho agreed with ui. oiu the pocicets of the ratepayers. “There Was No Alternative”

• 1 have made my opposition to the renovating of the old building quite plain from all the points ot V ewom which I looked at it, said Ci. Ha . "The committee probably had no alternative but to Bring down this report in the light oi all events anu after going into costs of rennovatirig other places, and taking into account the probability tnat it will be two years Before we can use our own Building, i am still opposed to tire spending oi the money on the Old building, but as there is no alternative 1 nave got to wan. e my oppos.- ( tion. If the old gas’ office nau ueen | available I woulu nave preidrCu to: see the money spent there wnere the j value of It would not be lost to me . council-” -I expressed opposition to tne lennovation of the old building anu I endorse what Cr. Harns nas said, said Cr. H. nawrence. ”there is no other way out, but 1 would have Ukcu Ito see money spent on a new Building even if it was omy io house one ;

stall.” ■i find myself in the same position, said Cr. Scoullar, “out in the light oi the report brougnt down by the committee there is nothing else to do but support the motion, t am still o. opinion that it is not a wise tmng to renovate the old building.’ .... Tenders were called immediaie.y after the lire by the insurance companies and the lowest tender, tnat oi , v/alpole and Eatterson, has been accepted. Work begins to-day.

tent with our financial system. 1 d> not pretend to ae one who believe n to be beyond criticism. But those, who. particularly in these times, contend tnat it is wholly wrong, are doing a great disservice to the country. | “To achieve the greatest war effort on our part, needs, in addition to a financial policy adjusted to the needs, of the community and of the neces- • sary directional forces oi Government, ' the willing co-operation of private in-| dustry and private individuals m the national effort. This co-operation will not be forthcoming unless the people I are fully informed and persuaued or i the necessity for the course which the i Government is pursuing.”