PUBLIC WORKS DEPT. REORGANISATION TO INCREASE EFFICENCY

Wanganui Chronicle, 25 May 1948, Page 4

PUBLIC WORKS DEPT. REORGANISATION TO INCREASE EFFICENCY

(P.A.) Wellington, May 2-1. The Minister of Public Works (Mr. Semple) has announced the following changes to improve the administration of the Government works programme: (1) The Ministry of Works and the Public Works Department are to be merged under the name of the Ministry of Works. (2) The Housing Division and the Goverment Architects Division are to be merged within the Ministry of Works. (3) The Civil Engineering Design and the Construction Section is to be transferred from the State hydro-electric department to the Ministry 'of Works.

It is hoped to speed up building and housing and hydro-electric works within the limits imposed by the shortages of labour and materials.

Hitherto the Public Works Department comprised four separate divisions (administration, archi. tectural, engineering and housing) with the Ministry of Works as an independent body concerned largely with overall planning. Mr. Semple said there had been the fullest justification for maintaining the identity of the separate organisations in the immediate post-war period but the time had arrived to merge them in a single Ministry of Works for economy and effective administration. The unified control of the Commissioner of works would enable the resources of the whole organisation to be called to the aid of works of the highest priority, such as housing and hydroelectric supply. Mr. _E. R. McKillip as Commissioner of Works will be permanent head of the reorganised Ministry of Works. Mr. F. Langbein will be assistant Commissioner of Works (engineering) and engineer-in-chief. Mr. S. Roberts will act as chief administrative officer.

Mr. R. A. Patterson will be assistant Commissioner of Works (housing and buildings) and Government architect.

Mr. C. W. O. Turner has been appointed assistant engineer-ln-chief with responsibility for hydroelectric planning and development. The Minister said that at the Government's request, Mr. McKillop would leave this week on official business for the United Kingdom and North America and would be absent for some months. Mr. Langbein would act as Commissioner of Works.