AN OLYMPIA BUILDING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 201, 25 August 1937, Page 6

AN OLYMPIA BUILDING.

SUPPLYING AN URGENT NEED. (To the Editor.) At the opening of the Auckland Winter Show his Worship the Mayor stated that he would be happy to be associated with the establishment of an Olympia commensurate with the status and size of the city. Now here is a scheme that is limitless and should appeal to the broad vision of his Worship and supply a long-felt civic amenity. Let all the different show authorities —manufacturers, importers, producers, horticultural, canine, bird, etc., and other affected bodies, such as the sporting fraternity, athletic training, boxing, wrestling, tennis, boating-, etc., combine and work with the idea of Auckland's centennial memorial taking a fitting and useful form. This would be best assured by arranging with the Harbour Board (who ultimately would he the gainers by enhanced values of surrounding properties) to devote free or at a nominal rental in perpetuity sufficient unused reclaimed land, say, four or five acres, near the, Power Board building on the waterfront, to this purpose. A stately building with ornamental surroundings, and a pavilion with bandstand on a suitable jetty, also a promenade along the whole frontage of the property, from which harbour events could be conducted and viewed. Thus we would beautify our front door, fill an urgent need and create a fitting memorial of a century's progress in the most convenient centre for the purpose, close to the wharves, ferries, trams, trains, bus and service car terminal, and with the waterfront roadway and radiating highways servicing the travelling public. Kindred activities would be centralised and co-ordinated, and a memorial, both ornamental and useful, erected that would add to the cultural and physical well-being of the community. As I said in the beginning, the scheme is limitless. QLIDXUXC.