ANOTHER SITE TROUBLE.

Evening Post, Volume LXIII, Issue 82, 7 April 1902, Page 2

ANOTHER SITE TROUBLE.

Till: NKVV CUSTOMHOUSE. RKPLIKS BY FOUU MINISTERS. A large deputation, k>|>h sonting the Harbour Doaul, City Council, and tho Chamber of Connneico waited on thePronuor oil SatuuUj ttlW'rnoun to u»k. that the now Customhouse should noL be ui'tsutcd on tho \\ ntm loo-quay a»to, but should bo accommodated on tho piopo.sed extension of tho Post Ollico buildings. All tho members of tho Cabinet then iv Wellington wero present, and also the memboia for tho City and Suburbs, at Uio invitation of tho Premier. Mr. 11. Heauchamp, Chairman of the Harbour Hoard, pointed out that tho matter wiis 0110 of great importance to tho commercial community, and said that since tho Harbour Hoard agreed on tho Waterloo-quay site matters had changed, as tho (iovemment had acquired Messrs. Levin and Cc.'s site^ and propobed to considerably enlurge tho Post Oiiico building. It was desirable that the Customhouse should be placed as near as possible to the chief import wharves — as Jervois-quay and the Queen's Wharf were likely to be for some years to come — and to the centre of the business part of the city. A Customhouse on the Waterloo-quay site would break tho continuity of the Board's access to the property it now possessed. Unlike most other Boards the Wellington Harbour was practically dowerless, and as it naturally dung to what land it had it was loth to make the sacrifice ( which parting t with the proposod Bite would entail. That point, however, was apart from the fact that it was not in a central position for the purpose intended. Mr. Beauchamp further pointed out that tfio ' double lino of railway which would pass immediately in, front of tho proposed building would be a source of danger. Ho hoped the Government would be induced to reconsider the matter. The Mayor said tho more central the Cu&tomhouso, tho more likely it was to atfect the vahlo of properties in the immediate neighbourhood. If placed on tho site- where it now was it would more materially affect the finances of tho City Council than if it were placed on Waterloo-quay. There was far more of tho Council's land in the neighbourhood of the Post Office, and the Council would therefore prefer seeing the Customhouse placed in that block. Mr. John Duthio, of tho Council of the Chamber of Commerce, emphasised Mr. # Beauehamp's remarks that it was necessary for the prompt despatch of business that, the Customhouse should bo as near as possible to tho main import wharves. When ho was interviewed some time ago on the subject he spoko solely on behalf of his own firm, aud not as representing* the mercantile community generally. Mr. G. Fisher, M.H.R., stated that if all this recapitulation was , all that was to be said it was only necessary to point out tuat. tho reasons urged had been answered long ago, and nothing had transpired sinco the legislation •on the subject to alter tho views of those" who had given most consideration to tho matter, or to change the opinions of the Premier and his Government. The arguments against the Waterloo-quay site were old, stale, and certainly unprofitable and did not represent the feeling of the city. At somo length Mr. Fisher supported the Waterloo-quay site. After hearing further representations, the Premier said the Ministers in charge of tho Departments concerned would oxplain tho position thoy took up. Sir Joseph Ward, as Postmaster-Gene-ral, said ho was afraid the Postal Department could not help very much in the request that any portion of the ground floor of the new building should be devoted to the work of the Customhouse. As a matter of fjpt, the growth of the postal business during the past five or ton years had been so e.\tens>ivo, and tho prospect of future growth was so cortain, that neither the Departmental officers nor the Executive Administration could in any way assent to this proposal! It was possible that along a portion of the frontage, a few small sites would be available, bufc this could be only for a time, and on sufferance. Ho had gone fully into the matter with tho executive officers, and nothing could induce tue Deportment to mako a recommendation favourable to the wishes of the deputation. Even now tho Postal Department had had to take offices outside its own building, and had been compressed by the Customs, and as nil the space in the new building would be required for the work of the Post Office ho was sorry that the wish of the doputatiou could not be recommended. From the natural exigencios of the Department it- was impossible to assent to it The Hon. 0. H. Mills, Minister for Customs, said he had approached the 3»(estion with a very open mind. He unerstood from those officers at the head of the Department that it would bo far better to have the Customhouse clear altogether from any other building. It appeared that the Postal Department would require all tho ground floor of its enlarged building, and ns the Customs would want a ground floor also a difliculty at once arose. Tho plans had been prepared for that building, and if there could have been an' amalgamation of offices without injury to oither Department ho would have had no objection to sinking his personal ideas. But he felt satisfied the two Departments would not work in unison. As a resident of the city, Mr. Mills thought the Harbour Board would have to provide more wharf accommodation before long, and that must go to the northword, nearer tho proposed site for tho Customhouse. He would be glad to give the matter the fullest consideration when it came before Cabinet. The Hon. W. Hall-Jones, Minister for Public Works, pointed out that the suggestion to build a Customhouse on the reclaimed land first came from the Harbour Board. It struck the Government as a very good suggestion, and eventually they cume to terms. An agreement having been made, it ought, in his opinion, to be observed. Ho knew thut the ground floor of the new Customhouse would not be sufficient for all the clerical work, somo of which would have to be done upstairs. He referred to the growing' requirements of the Post Office, which had been brought under his notice as .Minister for Public Works. The Customs Department had always been subsidiary to some other department when it should not bo. It had been the same in Christchurch, whore it was in the Post Office building, which it would hnve to leave. He was confident that if they built a Customhouse in Wellington on the site of tho Post Office block tho Customs Mould in a few years have to be put out again. There were other offices or deportments allied to tho Customs, such as the Inspector of Machinery, the Nautical Adviser, and so on, which would have to be accommodated. He had seen no reason to alter the decision he came to in 1898 when the Bill was before the House. Mr. Duthie suggested that if the requirements were so great the Government should acquire the City Council's site as well. The Premier remarked that it was a question of cor*. They knew the Waterloo-quay site would cost £2000. What would the Corporation land cost? Mr. Fisher— £so,ooo. Mr. Duthie— You will not give • more thnu it will cost. (Laughter.) .The Premier laid it wai a matter of

inipuiliniLO In .ill ( onconii'il, and iMinistcis would p\o tin 1 f.tcts placed before them thru nio-l minus < oiisidtM'iition. It was wi'H to put tlio Pitu.Uum lanly, and ho would point nut tint tin 1 Harbour Hoaiil li.ul ;il;ilm'il to this- Mte. Theivr^umenlH jn^L pined buioiv lnm wcro usable at the veiy lii^t, and ho could only fciiy that if the urn* of tho site as pu>poved*\\uuld bo so injurious to comnii'HT as stated, then tho Board stood convicted of a guivo oversight in not having informed tho Government that tlio land mum entirely unsuitable. On looking through all conespondenco that hud pahßod — which he traced in detail — ho fouud the facts to bo entirely against the' Board. Tho Board and Government had arrived at an agreement which had been submitted to Parliament, and Parliament hud legislated to give effect to the proposal. Right up to 28th February last the Board wan satisfied, sent in its bill for £2916, and would duly get its moneys Thin in March it appeared vory anxious to retain the land. The Board moved the City Council, and the Council or tho Board moved the Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Fishor — The Board moved both. ' The Premier said it was still the duty of the Government to consider all representations that might be made, and Ministers were always vleased to meet representative men to discuss the best interests of tho city and tho colony. From Mr. Fisher they had heard the opposite view. Mr. Fisher — I could fill the room with double the number here. The Premior intimated that it wos not o, question of numbers, but of business. He could understand the Board's position, and could see that the Customhouse erected between tho Board's own buildings would be Hko Naboth in tho vineyard. (Laughter.) * He did not blame the official who saw that and Rdvised the Board to ( bring pressuro to bear on the Government. A &ito had boon mentioned which would probably cost £50,000 or ££0,000. The Mayor— Wo will sell it for that. Mr. Beddbn— Say £10,000. The Mayor — ,Oh, more than that. The Premier said they would see the Government would bo giving away land which would cost them about £2000 for land that would cost at least £10,000. That would mean giving away £10,f/i0 of the taxpayers' money without the authority of Parliament — indeed, going away from what Parliament had decided. They would certainly have to gho Parliament an opportunity of reviewing its decision if they contemplaTfed doing anything of the kind. As to -the argument concerning the distance, ho thought that fell to the ground. He agreed with Mr. Fishor that the Board could not extend its docks and shipping accommodation at tho Te Aro end. Wellington was going to grow*, and where could tho increased accommodation bo found but at Thorndon? Then tho ndvnutngc of theJiVaterloo-quay site would bo still raoro apparent. Mr. Seddon then cmlirnsised' what the Postmnstor-Ucneral md said as to the requirements of the Post Office The general requirements (reforred to elsewhere) for departmental buildings in this city were fo great, and every foot of land so valuable, that tho Government could not in justice to the colony as a whole give away that which tho deputation asked for. That was, really the position, and in not being' able to meet their request they would understand that the Government was actuated by its duty to tho whole colony. Every phn^o of tho question had been considered. He could not hold out much hopo of tho wishes of the doputntion being acceded to. Tho representations, however, wou!8 receive consideration by tho full Cabinet, and the result would be made known Inter.