WORSE NOW.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 234, 2 October 1937, Page 13

WORSE NOW.

ACUTE CONGESTION. TOWN HALL PROBLEM. COMMITTEE INQUIRING.

Any place was considered good enough for a local governing body to meet in when Auckland wast young. A small room above a bookseller's shop In Queen Street constituted Auckland's first municipal chamber. The next site was in the old Magistrate's Court in High Street. In 1887 the council decided f o move to a portion of the present Public Library building, and that sufficed until the present Town Hall was built in 1011. It was at that time regarded as far in advance of Auckland's requirements. But , in the passing of 20 years it lias become quite inadequate for the city activities, so much so that a special committee of the Auckland City Council has now under consideration the finding of better accommodation for the Town Hall ptaff to do away with the present congestion. Attention lias been directed to the property owned by the council at the intersection of Grey's Avenue, Cook and Forgusson Streets, opposite the Town Hall, where there is at present a block of shops. Different opinions arc held as to tho best use that this area could be put to. It lias been pointed out that there is sufficient area for the building of a modern eight-storied block for municipal offices, and 'that if this were done the present Town Hall could be let to other local bodies or tenants. Another Suggestion. Another suggestion is that municipal administration should be retained in the present building, and a larger town hall erected on the site across the street. It is probable that it is in one of these directions that the committee which is now inquiring into the matter, will report, and it will then rest with the council to make a decision as to what is the bent step to take.

Jt is considered that the matter cannot bo long delayed, for during the past year the congestion at the headquarters of Auckland's civic administration has grown more acute than ever. A complicating factor in connection with the site is that the Government has cast rather an envious eye upon it as a desirable location for a new post office to serve the upper portion of the city, but although the State could probably ?laim priority of right, it is considered that in this instance the interests of the city and civic requirements would receive first consideration. "Disgrace to the City."

In referring to the accommodation at the Town Hall in his financial review at the end of his first term of office, the Mayor, Sir Ernest Davis, said that the conditions under which the staff at the

Town Hall worked were a disgrace to the city, and would not be tolerated by any business concern. He said that he had been amazed to see the conditions under which many members of the staff by necessity discharged their duties, due largely to the lack of adequate accommodation. The circumstances did not assist in providing the utmost convenience to the public or assuring the fullest efficiency of the staff, and it was clear that any rearrangement of the present quarters could only be in the nature of a palliative. Tho policy awaiting determination was whether all the offices in the Town Hall should be vacated and the whole staff transferred to an administrative block, or only some departments shifted and the space left in the present building utilised for extra accommodation for the departments that remained. _ Until that point had been decided application could not be made to the Local Government Loans Board for sanction to raise a ionn, and similarly the city engineer would not be able to proceed with the preparation of preliminary plans, specifications and estimates.