A CIVIC CENTRE.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 141, 16 June 1926, Page 15

A CIVIC CENTRE.

(To the Editor.) Sir, —A centralised position for the administrative operations of the city •eems generally to be desired. The somewhat impulsive treatment of the Queen and Grey Street site has certainly not met with general approval, nor has the site itself, though the idea of the grouping of public buildings has. Other proposals have been made, each with its advocates. Amongst them is one which, regarded as suitable in area, as convenient of access, and of commanding character,; easily comes first, and it may safely be .affirmed that had the original plan-makers of this city foreseen the direction of its growth that the site in question would have been chosen. It is the site euggasted by Mr. Rough, the only possible objection to which is that it is now occupied as a cemetery. Can it be thought possible that had the old town-planners " imagined such a growth of the city as has come about that they would have placed a cemetery at its very centre? It certainly cannot, and it behoves us now to consider whether it can be used for the purpose proposed. Its use in such manner involves no violent change of plan. The Albert Park cite would cause an interference with very important things besides park area and streets; it would gravely affect the use of the chief educational organisation of Auckland, viz., the valuable endowment lying between Waterloo Quadrant and Alfred Street, the whole of which will be required for the University. That fact alone should render further discussion of it vain. What is required to fit the Upper Symonds Street site for the City Centre? It is the removal of a considerable number of graves to a more suitable place. Such removal for sufficient reason is not unknown. When the Grafton Bridge was built many graves were removed, the living representatives of the dead raising no difficulties, but readily sacrificing a natural sentiment to the public need. So I hope it would be in the larger undertaking. I venture to give my personal opinion. My wife and I have seven relatives buried on the western side and two on the eastern side of the street. We should feel we were not doing right were we to raise or support any opposition to so desirable an improvement to the city. Besides, we think there are limits to the influence of the dead hand. One thing ought to be insisted on, viz., that the City Council should be required to keep the undisturbed part of the cemeieoy in.decent order.—l am.,