OVERCROWDED OFFICES

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 18, 16 October 1920, Page 8

OVERCROWDED OFFICES

DEPARTMENTAL TROUBLES IN WELLINGTON. The overcrowded condition of the Land Transfer Office in Wellington was menlioned in tho Houso of Representatives by Mr. T. M. Wilford (Hutt), who suggested that the Prime Minister should visit tho office and see for himself ftho difficulties under which highly-important work was being done. The officers wero without reasonable facilities for their work. Valuable documents were piled on tho floor, and uho space in the safes was inadequate. Increased accommodation was urgently required. Mr. Wilford's complaint brought half a dozen other mcnibees to their feet. It appeared that Christ.church, Auckland, jJuneflin, Wangirnui, New Plymouth, and other centres, had - similar difficulty. They all wanted increased accommodation for important Government Departments.

Tho Minister of Internal Affairs (Hon. G. .T. Anderson) said it was nlmost impossible at present for the Government to secure accommodation that was required (or the public Departments. Largely . increased office space was needed iin Wellington, but it could not bo secured. The Government had been forced recently to purchnso private houses-on Tlio Terrace for tho use of Departments. If tho Government provided temporary accommodation, as had been done in the caso of'the Defence Department, many members would bo heard in protest. The Prime Minister said he would be Bind to visit the Land Transfer Office in Wellington, when opportunity offered. There had been'an extri/ordiHaryincrease in the business of tho Departments in , recent years, and extraordinary congestion had arisen in consequence. He had already heard that the office mentioned by Mr. Wilford was overcrowded, and '■ almost insanitary. If ho could do anything to relievo the position ho would bo glad. i . . ! ELECTRIC POWEOOARDS AMENDMENT BILL The Electric Power Boards Amendment Bill was yesterday reported with amendments from the- Statutes Bovision. Committeo of the Upper House. When tho Bill was before the Lower Houso there was some discussion regarding tho expense to a board of preparing its own valuation toII and rate-book. An amendment proposed b,v the Statutes Bcvision Committee provides that a hoard may use as much of tho valuation rolls and rate-books of existing local; bodies as will servo its purpose. The committee also proposes that local authorities ■ of constituent districts may contribute towards tho preliminary • cost of constituting an electric power district .£250 '-instead of tho iIOO originally proposed.