STATE DEPARTMENTS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10612, 10 June 1920, Page 4

STATE DEPARTMENTS

THEIR CONSTANT EXPANSION A BIG HOUSING PROBLEM. The Board of Trade has removed this week from the Union Bank of Australasia Chambers to more commodious premises at No. 156, The Terrace, recently purchased by the Government from Mr R. B. Morris. The. Accommodations Board, it is understood, is finding great difficulty in securing the accommodation needed for the constantly expanding Government departments. Government Buildings' are overtaxed; the Valuation Department has had to find a footing hi, tho now Police Headquarters buildings,. Johnstone street; in order to house certain branches of its work the State, as in the case of the Board of Trade, has had to buy up private residences; iajid even so, has been driven to districts at an inconvenient distance from the centre of Government activities.

Some slight relief, it is understood, will shortly he afforded by the cutting down of tho Base Records staff of the Defence Department, when space will become available in the new temporary building in Whitmore street, for the income tax branch of the Tax Department, which has long been seriously overcrowded in its present quarters in Government Buildings. It is hoped that the new State Fire Insurance building now in course of erection on Lambton quay will put an end, for a long time to come, at least, to tho difficulties of housing State departments. When completed, this is to be tho. tallest building in Wellington, and will provide accommodation for a considerable number of State; departments; and, it is believed, for outside offices, too. When tho now Parliament Building is completed, it is possible that tho old temporary Parliament Building, formerly Government House, will, tor a considerable time at least, be used for departmental offices; though the ultimate intention, of course, is to pull it down to make way for the southern wing of the new Parliament Building.