DOMINION’S LONDON HOME

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 166, 10 April 1926, Page 10

DOMINION’S LONDON HOME

NEW AND VASTLY IMPROVED QUARTERS

BETTER FOR ACCOMMODATION AND FOR EXHIBITION

FRONTAGE ON THE STRAND AND AGAR STREETS

In announcing the New Zealand Government's scheme to sell its. leasehold interest in the High Commissioner’s present premises, and to buy from the British Medical Association the freehold of a six-stories block on the corner of the Strand and Agar Street, a Press Association message from London (published yesterday) stated that AngloNew Zealanders regard the acquisition enthusiastically. The message added that, when the new premises are taken over, the High Commissioner’s Office will compare favourably, as regards site, accommodation, and cost, with the London offices of the other Dominions. Information obtained yesterday from the Prime Minister confirms the importance of the transaction from the point of view of adequate representation of New Zealand in London. A splendidly situated and very valuable freehold in the centre of the metropolis, at comparatively low cost, and ample for accommodation and exhibition purposes, sums 'up Mr. Coates’s appreciation of the acquisition.

Questioned on the subject yesterday, the Prime Minister, the Right Hon. J. G. Coates, said : — “It lias been recognised for some time that the present building in which the High Commissioner’s Office is situated is not satisfactory from the point of view of accommodation or storage room, nor is the building in such a prominent position as to impress the general public with the importance of this Dominion. It is not a corner site, and the adjoining premises are a theatre and an hotel.

“The acquisition of a building which would, from a locality and accommodation standpoint, fulfil the requirements of the High Commissioner’s Office, situated in a position where window displays of New Zealand produce, etc., would come prominently before the British public, lias, therefore, been kept

in view, and I am pleased to state that tlie negotiations for the purchase of such a building have now been concluded.” Mr. Coates imparted the information that the building purchased oq behalf of the Dominion is a prominent one, situated at the corner of the Strand and Agar Street, a few hundred yards nearer Trafalgar Square than the present site, and in close proximity to Charing Cross station. It is a very substantial structure, consisting of a basement and six storeys, having a frontage to the Strand of approximately 50ft., a return frontage to Agar Street of over 100 ft. The floor space is approximately 31,000 square feet, compared with 23,500 square feet in the present building; it would, however, be possible fo add further floor space to the new purchase with minor structural alterations. ( An Imposing Library. The building contains a magnificent and imposing library, covering an

area of 2500 square feet, compared with 850 square feet in the present building; this would, of course, result in greater accommodation and comfort for New Zealand visitors and the many people interested in New Zealand visiting the High Commissioner’s Office for information. The storage basement covers an area of 5900 square feet, compared' with approximately 3500 square feet now available, and this extra accommodation will fill an urgent requirement of the High Commissioner’s Office. On the ground floor there are five large windows in comparison with two in the present building, and these would enable the display of New Zealand produce, scenery, etc., in a much more efficient and prominent manner to the public than in the present

building. At present there is a portion of the ground floor used as a kinema theatre, and it is proposed to utilise approximately one thousand square feet of this as a private Jcinema for the display of New Zealand films, an attractive and valuable form of advertisement for the Dominion. Asked as to the price, the Prime Minister stated: “The purchase price for the property, which includes the 'freehold of the land and building, is £157,500. First-class Investment. f‘lt is anticipated that there will be no difficulty in disposing of the lease of the present building at a price satisfactory to the Dominion, and the increasing value of property in London, which should still further advance orfl the completion of a scheme for widening the Strand, makes the acquisition of the new property a first-class in-

vestment for the Dominion. Briefly, the Dominion now lias:— “1. An imposing corner site with five ground floor windows for advertising purposes and in more suitable environment. “2. Extra office accommodation with room tor expansion over present re-f quirements. “3. A more suitable arrangement of rooms enabling grouping of the different sections, of the High Commissioner’s staff, thus facilitating the work considerably. “4 Addition to storage room in. the basement, which was urgently required. “5. A small kinema, which will be of great value for advertising and propaganda purposes. “6 A large library giving comfort and convenience to visitors to the High Commissioner’s office. “7. A freehold building of substantial structure, well lighted, and in excellent condition; the property being freehold, with a commanding position, should improve in value as time goes on.’’ “I feel confident that all persons who have a personal knowledge of the locality will agree that we have been able to secure at comparatively low cost a very valuable freehold property, splendidly situated in the “centre of London, of which in the years to come New Zealanders may well be proud, and which will do credit to the importance of New Zealand as a progressive British Dominion.”