"NOT OUTSTANDING ARCHITECTURE99

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28984, 27 August 1959, Page 8

"NOT OUTSTANDING ARCHITECTURE 99

Government House In Auckland

‘‘The Press" Special Service AUCKLAND, August 26. Government House in Auckland was not an outstanding piece of architecture, Professor R. H. Matthew, professor of architecture, at Edinburgh University, told the Auckland University Council. Professor Matthew said that in Wellington he had been closely questioned by the Prime Minister <Mr Nash) about Government House. Mr Nash wanted to know about the building and about his proposed development of the grounds. “I gave my opinion,” said Professor Matthew, “that while the building is not an outstanding one in the architectural sense, it could be used for a staff club or other purposes for many years. “It could be improved by taking bits off,” he added, “but I didn’t tell the Prime Minister that.” To keep the whole of Government House grounds open could not be justified, said Professor Matthew. “A lowish building, three storeys, could be built on an area adjoining Symonds street, and a music department and chapel could be built on a part of the Princess street frontage. “The Prime Minister said he was coming up in October to consider the future of Government House," he said. “I suggested to him that the sooner a decision was made on it the better.”