Huts for Government Staffs
The need of providing accommodation for civil servants and other officials in the provinces was foreseen by the Government long before the outbreak of war, but the hard- ship that would be imposed on schools, colleges and hotels by sudden dispossession was not foreseen. The abundantly justified protests have not passed unheeded, and it is now announced that a tender has been accepted for the construc- tion of the first of the groups of hutments to which depart- mental staffs will be transferred. If this work had been undertaken before the war there would not have been so much competition for materials as there is now, but it is no use crying over spilt milk. It is realised that the build- ings need not necessarily be made of timber, which is so much in demand for all war services. Apart from brick and concrete, there are many substitute materials with which architects and builders have made exhaustive experiments during the last twentS, years. Though there is no time for prolonged inquiries, it is to be hoped that the various uses to which the buildings might be put after the war will be borne in mind, so that in the long run there may be no waste. If permanent utility were ensured it would really be a saving to spend a little more on right construction and with a view to amenities. There are many good architects deprived of employment whose services should be enlisted.
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