DEFENCE BRANCHES

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 12, 9 October 1918, Page 6

DEFENCE BRANCHES

AMALGAMATION PROPOSED.

■ Defence Headquarters has ipproved of the amalgamation of the War Expenses Branch (including the Pay Branch) and Base Records, and the change is expected to he given effect to in the near future. In connection with this amalgamation, the Defence Authorities have decided to erect another temporary building alongside tilie offices of the Base Records at the back of the Government Buildings. The new structure, which is estimated to cost £12,000, Mill encroach ugpn Whitmore Street, and there is a proposal that Stout Street shall be extended to Bunny Street through the open ground at the. back of the Government Buildings. Detailed arrangements for the erection of the new building lave yet to be madei but it is understood that the Public Works Department will do the work by day labour, and will draw upon the camp staffs for the required mechanics. The building is expected to be ready for occupation in about four month's' time. It will provide accommodation for tho whole of the staff of the War Expenses Branch, numbering some hundreds of persons, and for the branch's records. • The Defence authorities explain that the expenditure of a large sum of money on the erection of a temporary building at this stage of the war has not been undertaken without careful consideration of the position. Efficiency and economy demand - that the \\ ar Expenses Branch , ' and Base Records should be under one roof, in order to avoid duplication of records and delays in communication. Any delays in.the work of these brandies are very expensive to the State and very annoying to the soldiers and the general public. It will be readily understood, foi example, that a delay of no more than one day per man in the checking of soldiers' accounts maj cost the State very many hundreds of pounds in a year by delaying discharges. Another fact that had to be considered was that the Pay Branch and Base Records would' not have ' their work complete when the war finished. It is likely that these branches will be employing big staffs for at least two years after tho declaration of peace, and possibly longer. Other branches, such as the Recruiting Branch and the Government Stntis j tician's Ballot Branch, are in rented quarters, but they will not be required to carry on after tho war iu anything like their present form. The temporary buildings 'that are to be occupied by Base Records and the Pay Branch will be good for at least ten years if required, and they may prove useful when the Government undertakes the rebuilding of tho wooden Government Buildings. . One of the- proposals considered by the Defence authorities involved the commandeering of the big ferro-con-crete building now iu course of erection for the Farmers' TJnion. The temporary loss of this building, which Iβ to serve as the Dominion headquarters of the union, and also, during the war period, as a. wool store, would have been a serious matter for the farmers organisation. It is unlikely now that tho commandeer will be made. \