21 August 1943 - James Fletcher, Commissioner of Defence and Controller of Shipbuilding speaks at a launching of eight motor towboats. Photograph taken by John Dobree Pascoe. Source The Fletcher Trust Archives
Sir James Fletcher – Commissioner of Defence Construction
Late in April 1942 Prime Minister Peter Fraser was informed that within six weeks more than 20,000 US troops would arrive in the Wellington area. The question was where to house them, when manpower and building materials were in desperately short supply?
Fortunately, a month before, Fraser had made a new and powerful appointment. James Fletcher, the country’s biggest contractor, became Commissioner of Defence Construction with power to use all the country’s resources. He sold his Auckland house, moved to Wellington and at no salary and with a small staff flung himself into building forts, aerodromes, magazines, and naval bases.
No achievement was more dramatic than to create camps for 20,000 men in six weeks complete with water supply, sanitation and electrical equipment. An associate wrote, ‘When the troops marched in with their bands playing they found everything in order and their dinner already cooked.’
Fletcher had the knowledge and personality to bridge the gap between the Public Works Department (PWD) and the private building industry. All private building was stopped and Camp infrastructure was built by PWD with accommodation built by private contractors. Committees were set up in each region to allocate work to master builders. Prefabrication was employed to a remarkable extent. Men were directed to where they were needed and hours of work were extended.
When domestic needs were filled Fletcher went on to make buildings for the Pacific islands and small ships.
