POWER BOARD OFFICES.

Otaki Mail, 23 February 1923, Page 4

POWER BOARD OFFICES.

TO BE IN WEIiABOA OR LEMN. A question was asked By Mr A. .McKay at Tuesday’s meeting'oi the Ilorowiienua l’ower Board as to what was being done in the way oi providing ol'iice accommodation for the Board. .Mr G. A. Monk, chairman, said with tlie exception of the inquiry Horn the Borough Council as to what accommodation was required nothing had been done. He thought tire Council would, be able to let offices to the Board cheaper than the Board could build them.

Mr McKay: 1 can't see ltow they can. lie said the Borough Council would probably build au expensive class of building in keeping with tiie town, and necessarily the rent must be higher. The Board should build its own offices on its own property at Weraroa. That site was central and would be convenient, l'or people coming from any part of die country. He moved that the Boat'd build offices on its own property at Weraroa. In seconding pro lamia, Mr W. Bather said the question was one that should be considered. Tlie Chairman (to Mr McKay): Uo you wish to state any particular time to commence, or that the Board should define its policy? Mr McKay: Define our policy and go straight ahead. It was pointed out that at last meeting a motion was passed that offices be not included in the depot buildings to be erected at Weraroa.

• Mr A. Brown said lie was in favour of the Board putting its offices on us own ground. I Mr D. W. Mathesou said he could not support a resolution so vague as tluu pul forward by Mr McKay, which provided Unit Urey would have to build on their own land irrespective of cost, tic said the Borough Council was moving as fast as it could with the scheme it had in view', winch necessitated a lot of careful inquiry. The Council would be able to let office room cheaper than the Board could erect, it. and pointed out that, the Council was bearing in mind the requirements of three local bodies--County Council, Power Board and Borough Council They could build for the three cheaper than one could do for itself, as the same hoard-room would do for all three. In the build ing there was going to be nothing elaborate, as Mr McKay said, that . would mean higher rentals. He was l not regarding tlie question from a ret venue point so much as from the most central and convenient position for the Board to have its offices. What the Council wanted to know was the requirements ol the Board, and the Board should supply particulars of the accommodation it required. He moved an amendment that the Engineer be instructed to prepare a sketch plan ol suitable office and board-room accommodation, and that he submit an estimate of cost. Mr A. Seifert seconded tlie amendment. and said he favoured a central position for the offices for the convenience of those having business w'itli the Board. Ho thought it would be cheaper to rent than build offices, but the amendment would give them all the information.they required. Mi \V. iJ. Gunning supported the amendment. The site in Levin was mote central, and people having business would not have to go rigid to Weraroa to do it. Mr C. Kilsby considered the Weraroa she more central for people from all parts of tlie county. People did not all travel by car, and as the offices were near the station they would be J convenient, lor people coming from north and south. Mr Barber said he was glad the question hud been brought up, as it seemed there were various points of | view about it. The chairman said he thought the , motion was getting a little ahead of I

things, as the present accommodation was sufficient for requirements just now. To build offices, it would necessit de an outlay of £IOOO at least, in any case he did not favour the offices be ng at Weraroa, and Thought they should be in a central position in the town. That would be found the case in connection with any business concern—it had its offices in a central position and its factory or workshop in the outskirts. A central position was necessary for business purposes and tlie convenience of the Board's clients.

Mr McKay, in reply, said the separating of the offices from the Board’s workshop, etc., would affect the efficiency of the staff, which should Le concentrated. He maintained that Weraroa was central and suitable tor clients from .Shannon or tlie southern portion of the county who came by train. When the power was availubh people would come here for their electrical supplies, and there was no need for them to go into Levin to buy sec-ond-rate goods. Mr Mathesou :A point of order. Why second rate?

Mr McKay: People will come here to buy parts, and they should be able to go to the Board's premises and get them from the Engineer, who would see the people got . the right tilings. We want the Engineer’s approval of the class of goods purchased. The Engineer should be on the premises near tlie station, and not up the town. Therefore I think it would affect the efficiency of the staff if the headquarters were in the town Mr Mathesou also replied and said that they were t't/. dealing with the staff, but he considered the greatest efficiency would be obtained bv having the office centrally situated. He always understood that the workshops and assembly rooms would be at Weraroa, but the executive office- the secretary, must lie in the town. As did not think the Board should go into the retail business at all. Mr Mntheson's amendment, was then pu! and carried, the information to be supplied to next meeting.