CONGESTED SPACE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 150, 28 June 1933, Page 3

CONGESTED SPACE.

SUPREME COURT LIBRARY. MINISTER SYMPATHETIC. Representatives of the Auckland District Law Society yesterday afternoon placed before the Hon. .J. O. C'obbe, Minister of Justice, the case for increased library accommodation at the Supreme Court. In reply the Minister admitted that tile quarters were cramped, and lie expressed sympathy with the society in the difficulties under which its members were working. He promised to see the Minister of Finance and ascertain whether there was a likelihood, of some provision being made to relieve the congestion. At the invitation of the deputation, the Minister yisited the library and court rooms and was shown the site for the proposed extension of the building. The president of the society, Mr. A. M. Goulding, informed the Minister that the present position was so acute that something had to be done. The same case had been presented to successive Ministers for 13 years, and although a vote of £5000 was once placed on the Estimates, no expenditure had been undertaken. It was pointed out by Mr. A. H. Johnstone that successive Ministers had all agreed that improved and increased accommodation for the library was necessary. There were over 550 members in the society's district, yet there was accommodation at the library for only nine persons to use the facilities at one time. Only three tables were provided. The library was available for the judges as well, and it contained books of a value of over £7000, all of which the society had purchased. Including fittings, the estimates for the ejection of the building amounted to al)out £20,000, but such a large amount would not now be needed. The society had offered to assist the Government to the extent of £2000.