THE NEW LAW COURTS

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22340, 2 March 1938, Page 10

THE NEW LAW COURTS

SUBMISSION OF PLANS FOR APPROVAL MINISTER’S PROMISE CITY COUNCIL TO BE ASKED TO COMMENT Plans of the new Supreme Court and Magistrate’s Court buildings for Christchurch are to be submitted to the City Council for comment before the Minister for Justice (the Hon H G . r. Mason) gives his approval to them. This assurance has been given by the Minister to Mr K. M. Gresson, president of the Canterbury Law Society, according to a statement yesterday by Mr GresMr Gresson said that he had recently met the Minister in Wellington and discussed the plans of the new Law Courts with him. He . had told the Minister that considerable public interest had now been aroused in Christchurch, and that in some quarters there was a growing apprehension that the new Courts would not be as fine as file magnificence of the site, the importance of the buildings and the large expenditure in contemplation demanded. “The Minister, however, thoroughly appreciates that the site is unrivalled, and he is as concerned as anyone eise that the finished structure should be one the city can regard with pride,” said Mr Gresson. “The elevations which from the point of view of appearance are all-important cannot be completed until the internal design is finally settled. The plans are still being revised, and as alterations that are contemplated affect entrances, the preparation of the elevations is necessarily delayed. “The Law Society in considering the plans has, of course, been concerned primarily from the point of view of practical convenience and suitability for the work to be car- „ ried out therein and, as well, a ; proper regard for the dignity and standing of the Supreme Court. But we are citizens as well and have not overlooked how important it is that the buildings should be of an outstanding character. “We have asked, therefore, that the elevations be submitted to the Christchurch City Council as representing the citizens, and the Minister assured me that when they are available this will be done.”