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HOUSING CONSTRUCTION SERVICES In connection with the development of areas to be utilized for the construction of houses, the Public Works Department has undertaken the provision of certain service installations and street works as part of the State housing activities. This has involved a considerable amount of work, particularly in the Hutt Valley, where the service installations have been very extensive in new areas which are being developed for residential use. It was not possible at first to arrange for this portion of the work to be completed prior to the buildings being commenced, but from now on it is anticipated that these services will be available before the building activities are ready to commence. PUBLIC BUILDINGS With the virtual cessation of defence construction, activities have been concentrated on urgent civil works, included amongst which are the following : — Department of Agriculture, for which buildings have been erected in connection with animal research stations. Education Department. —A new school has been erected at Avondale, and additional accommodation provided at New Plymouth Girls' High School; Stratford Technical High School; Wellington Girls' College ; King Edward Technical College, Dunedin ; Balclutlia District High School; and Gore High School. Health Department.—New or additional hospital accommodation has been provided at Middleinore ; Palmerston North ; Nelson ; Hanmer ; Burwood ; the Soldiers' Convalescent Hospital, Rotorua ; St. Helens Hospital, Invercargill; and staff accommodation at Kawakawa, Kohukohu, and Nelson. Internal Marketing Division.—Buildings in connection with State vegetable schemes, dehydration plants, &c., were erected or extended at Pukekohe, Turuturu, Motueka, and Christchurch. Mental Hospitals Department.—New buildings erected include a male occupational block, Auckland, villas at Porirua and at Waitati, and a medical officer's residence at Porirua, while a start has been made on a large new mental hospital scheme at Lake Alice, near Marton. Police Department.—Six new police-stations have been or are being built and five police residences provided at various towns throughout the Dominion. Post and Telegraph Department.—New buildings were constructed or are under construction at Kaitaia, Kaikohe, Newmarket, New Plymouth, Aongatete, Te Kuiti, Lower Hutt, Makara, Island Bay, Seddon, Inangahua Junction, Greymouth, Balclutha, and Wanaka, and several towers have been demolished as a precaution against earthquake damage. Public Works Department.—Buildings were or are being built at Te Puke, Nelson, Hamilton, Christchurch, and Hororata for various departmental activities. Railways Department.- New buildings were erected at Blenheim and Kaikoura, the latter including complete station and other accommodation. A large reinforced-concrete goods shed at Christchurch is under construction. Rehabilitation Department has been provided with accommodation, including offices, training centres, &c., in fourteen centres. Miscellaneous.—Buildings of all designs and sizes from small stores to large warehouses, from roadmen's cottages to complete camps, offices, workshops, &c., have been erected, extended, repaired, altered, and, in addition, the continuous task of maintenance has been faithfully attended to in spite of difficulties in respect of labour and material supplies. I wish to acknowledge the continued good services of the staff and workmen of the Department throughout the past year. It is most gratifying to know that within recent months many who have been on active service overseas have returned to New Zealand and will in due course be able to take their place again with the Department in happier circumstances than they have experienced for some years. While we welcome the home-coming of prisoners of war and all who have been spared to return to our fair land, we regret the loss of every one of those who gave their lives in the cause of liberty and freedom. APPENDICES Further information relating to public works carried out during the past year is included in the attached reports by the Engineer-in-Chief, the Government Architect, the Chief Electrical Engineer, and the Director of Housing Construction. In accordance with section 24 of the Main Highways Act, 1922, the annual report of the Main Highways Board is also submitted herewith, vide Appendix E. As required by subsection (2) of section 33 of the Soil Conservation and Rivers Control Act, 1941, I also submit with this statement the annual report of the Soil Conservation and Rivers Control Council covering the operations of the Council for the year ended 31st March, 1945.

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