DEFENCE CONSTRUCTION

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 87, Issue 39, 17 February 1943, Page 4

DEFENCE CONSTRUCTION

WORK IN NEW ZEALAND REVIEWED BY MR. SEMPLE (P.A.) Auckland, Feb. 16. Plans were in hand for the diversion of plant, labour, and materials into other phases of State works as the major defence programme in the Dominion was tapereu off, stated the Minister of Public Works, Hon. R. Semple, in an interview last night when reviewing the scope of defence construction undertaken during the war. He said that in the next few weeks earth-moving equipment engaged in defence works would be available for roading and draining for housing projects. In the House of Commons recently the Minister of Labour. Mr. E. Bevin, said it was anticipated that progress with defence works in Britain would permit the resumption on modified lines of housing construction, said Mr. Semple. Similar plans have been made in New Zealand. Men who planned buildings and engineering services for the defence programme are being diverted into other Govrnmental activities, such as housing, Mr. Semple said. He had made an inspection with Mr. James Fletcher, Commissioner of Defence Construction, and Mr. F. S. Dyson, District Engineer of Public Works, of the major defence works recently finished in the Auckland district. Almost the whole of the available labour was engaged in buildings for troops from overseas, and the works included not only hospitals and accommodation but stores and magazines. In addition to that programme the construction of buildings outside New Zealand was also in hand. Some idea of the task involved might be gauged from the fact that yards for the assembly of materials before shipments overseas necessitated an acreage of 25 each in Auckland, Wellington, and Lyttelton districts. Valuable experience had been gained in the construction of buildings and this would make for considerable economies in the post-war programme which the Government had to undertake.

Buildings in the city and suburbs of Auckland had Absorbed enormous quantities of timber and materials. In some instances some of those buildings would have only a few years of life for the purposes for which they had been built. Since the first store was erected there had been a reduction in costs of later buildings of more than 50 per bent. He said that within the next few weeks experimental types of buildings would be erected which should make still further economies in costs. Mr. Semple said those were the result of careful planning by men experienced in major projects The orderly way in which defence works had been carried out demonstrated that New Zealand could produce men capable of handling major projects. Mr. Semple said he was sorry the public of the Dominion had not the same facilities as himself to see the extent of the work carried out in the defence construction programme. It would be an eye-opener were that possible.

Illustrating the celerity with which the work was being done, he said a hospital being built with a capacity of 1000 beds would be finished in the next month or six weeks, and it had only been started 12 weeks ago. Part of the buildings was occupied by patients. When the full story of the defence programme and other war activities of the Dominion was told it would he found to be outstanding among Al-<d nations.