PENSIONS DEPARTMENT

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22511, 20 September 1938, Page 3

PENSIONS DEPARTMENT

EFFORT TO IMPROVE ACCOMMODATION

(PXKSS ASSOCIATION- TELEGKAM.) WELLINGTON, September 19. The question of providing adequate, well-conditioned accommodation for State departments and their staffs was referred to by the Hon. W. E. Parry (Minister for Pensions) to-day. He had this morning inspected, with the Commissioner of Pensions, Mr H. Digby Smith, the offices of the Pensions Department. The number of officers of that branch of the public service had been, he stud, increased simultaneously. wi*h the extension of the pensions system. Although the men and women of the department had not been many months in occupation of the present premises, space and conditions for the officers were scanty, and by no means up to the standard the Government wjshed 1 for its 'employees to do their work. "I like to see, men and women, whether in the employ of the Government or of private concerns," Mr Parry said, "working in uhcrowded, wellventilated and naturally-lighted rooms. The reverse conditions are neither conducive to good work nor to good health of the staff. It is plainly laid down 'a the" plans of new Government buildings being or to be - constructed, that the space provided shall meet not only present-day requirements, but the needs of the future. That is one of the chief reasons for the Government's filans for a Government centre in Welington for its buildings." The Minister said efforts would be once again made to improve the accommodation of the Pensions Department.