SQUANDERMANIA

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22371, 7 April 1938, Page 8

SQUANDERMANIA

(To ,the Editor.) Sir, —Concern is being expressed in the press in Christchurch regarding what is stated to be an unnecessary and wanton extravagance by the Government in erecting there a new block of law court buildings at an expense, it is stated, of between £300,000 and £400,000. These figures seem so outrageous for the purpose' to be served as to seem hardly conceivable, and to justify the protests. I have in mind what the amount of the tender was for the erection of our present Dunedin Law Courts building, of imposing and ornate design, and solid construction in stone, which was erected to serve the Supreme Court, the Magistrate and Police Courts, and housed also the Official Assignee. As a matter of curiosity it would be interesting to know what the completed cost of this building was. I know the figure to be remarkably low, and the contrast with the enormous proposed Christchurch outlay should be illuminating. If you are able to append the price, please also say the year of erection. —I am, etc., LEX. Dunedin, April 2. [The contract price for the erection of the Law Courts in Dunedin was £19,311, and the furnishings and liabilities up to the date of opening were £2500. The cost worked out at 7s IJd per yard. The opening ceremony took place on June 23, 1902. Sir Joseph Ward representing the Government. Accommodation is provided for the Supreme, Arbitration, Magistrate’s, and Police Courts, Official Assignee, staffs, and custodians. There are 14 rooms on the ground floor, and the building has a frontage to Stuart street of 190 ft and to Castle street of 133ft.—Ed., O.D.T.] The building is a massive structure, of ornamental design, in stone, and the interior woodwork, doors, sills, etc. (included in the price), are o’f heavy polished oak. The vast gulf between the coat of the Dunedin Law Courts building at £19,311 (after allowing something for higher costs of to-day) and the proposed Christchurch one at between £300,000 and £400,000, is highly expressive of the present Government’s wanton extravagance with public moneys, and can only be explained by the above writer’s term, “squandermania.”—Yours, etc.. A SUFFERING TAXPAYER.