Resettlement_Department_Annual_Report_1964-1965 — Page 39

out minor public works to improve the amenities of these areas, the main effort this year being concentrated on Rennie's Mill Village. Expenditure on maintenance and improvements to cottage areas came to $221,000.

85. A number of voluntary agencies own buildings in cottage areas. Their original building plans were examined and approved by the Works Division, which is also responsible for supervising alterations to them. These buildings include schools, clinics, churches, welfare centres and a maternity hospital.

86. Schools and welfare organizations that are allocated accom- modation in the estates invariably have to carry out alterations to, and decorations of, their premises before occupying them. All plans for work of this kind require the approval of the Works Division, which also prepares plans and estimates for, and supervises the construction by the maintenance contractor of, branch offices for other Government depart- ments in the estates. During the year, the Division supervised and approved 68 jobs in this nature.

87. The establishment of resite areas normally involves the prepara- tion of plane-table surveys. The Works Division is responsible for the general layout of these areas, for the construction of paths, steps and drainage, and for the provision of water supplies where the Waterworks Office is unable to lay on a mains supply. Expenditure on such items during the year was $276,500.

88. The clearance and resettlement of squatters to make way for permanent development sometimes involves the clearance of patches of cultivation. The Works Division is responsible for preparing accurate topographical surveys for crop and ex-gratia compensation purposes. During the year, the department paid out $938,800 in crop compensation and disturbance allowances against details obtained from these plans.

89. In the year under review the Division carried out 333 field in- spections of machinery in squatter factories under consideration for resettlement. The Division also advised on floor-loading and electrical requirements of industrial undertakings prior to their resettlement, supervised the installation of their machinery, and advised on applica- tions to install new machinery or change trade.

90. The Division's establishment was substantially increased during the year, a long-overdue measure to bring it up to the strength needed to cope with its rapidly-growing responsibilities.

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