THE CIVIC CENTRE

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 115, 12 November 1930, Page 7

THE CIVIC CENTRE

WHAT WILL IT COST?

NO ESTIMATE MADE

ALTERING FIEE STATION

The arbitration proceedings to settle tlio dispute between the City Council and the Fire Board, over the central fire station, were continued in the council chamber of the Town Hall 'yesterday afternoon before Sir Frederick Chapman. -Mr. J. O'Shca appeared for the City Council, and Mr. G. Cf.- Watson and Mr. L. K. Wilson for the Fire Board. Mr. Marcus Marks, the Government representative on the Fire Board, said that he considered . the board should retain the present position as the most economic site. For less than £15,000 the station could be mado suitI able for origade requirements, whereas jan expenditure of £70,000 to £SO,OOO would be required to: erect a new station on a new site. The cost to the city would be at least £40,000 for turning the block into a non-productive site. He thought that the council and the board should " have been able to adjust their differences without recourse to arbitration proceedings, and that tho Fire Board had not beeu met in the spirit in which it might, have boon. The favourable basis of payment, twenty-six annual payments of 5 per cent, of the capital value, which would apply to the present station but not fo a substitute site, said Mr. Marks, would mean that if tho board had to give up its present station it would lose £16,000 of assets, in addition to having to erect a new station. If the City Council had found it necessary to extend its operations over the road to the^station block, he would be prepared to give his attitude reconsideration, but he did not favour turning the land to non-productive purposes. To Mr. O'Shea, Mr. Marks said that as an independent member of the board, not concerned with tho view of either the council or the insurance companies, he was of the opinion that a great deal depended upon the use to which the land was to be put. Had the council's plan been to place the new council offices on the block, would Mr. Marks have opposed the suggestion, asked Mr. O'Shea. Mi\ Marks: "As a member of the Fire Board, no, but as a citizen I might have .my objections.'' PUBLIC SHOULD BE TOLD. To Mr. Watson, Mr. Marks said that he objected to.the proposal to create a civic centre, upon the further ground that there should be no expenditure upon such a scheme until tho public had been given full knowledge of the likely cost and had ratified the scheme. Mr. O'Shea: "Do you know what tho cost of the scheme will be?"— "No, I .have not the slightest idea, and I don't think that anyone else has. If you have you have never told the public." , • . •■ The cost of the scheme, said Mr. O'Shea, was dependent upon many factors, as when would it be expedient to shift the power station, to require Smith and Smith to move, and so on, depending upon the city's finances. Mr. Marks repeated that he did not think that any such scheme should be embarked upon until there was some idea of what the cost would be. He did not know of another town in New Zealand where there was so much poverty., of- land .from, a, l comni.ercial point of view. . ~ . . . Mr. O'Shea: "Have you been to Auckland?" Mr. Marks: "Yes, but clon't suggest Auckland and a civic centre: they have made too much of a hash of it." Wellington, said Mr. Marks, had been built up very largely of reclaimed land, but there -wasl little more to be done in that regard, witli the possible exception ■ of Evans Bay.Mr. O'Shea'said he was not referring to Auckland's civic square. PLANS FOE PRESENT STATION. Mr. W. Turnbull, .architect to the Fire Board, said that the boating shed site would be of inadequate area unless the board also had the Free Ambulance site. The building would be very exposed to the northerly wind, and the traffic conditions at the station doors would not bc'good. The full acre of the Mercer-Harris street site would be required to give a proper lay-out, and the present site had advantages over both those suggested substitutes. He had prepared plans for altering tho present station to meet brigade requirements, including a new wing on the western side and the building of an additional story, strengthening of foundations where required, strengthening the present structure to make it more earthquake-proof;" etc. The estimated cost of the work so planned was £15,000. A new building giving the same fire fighting facilities, no greater staff accommodation, : but more recreation facilities and space, would cost £57,314. He was satisfied that a good job could be made of altering the present station. OTHER PLANS EQUALLY GOOD. He did not think that the council's civic centre . scheme was the only scheme: a scheme restricted by a limitation that the fire station should not be interfered with should be equally satisfactory. He had seen an alternative civic centro proposal prepared by Mr. Gray Young and considered it a very simple and satisfactory one. Ho had himself drawn up a plan for a civic centre which would not interfere with the present fire station, but ho preferred Mr. Gray Young's as being less °°To JMr. O'Shea, Mr. Turnbull said that he was satisfied that the present building was amply stable to carry an additional story. To Mr. O'Shga, Mr. Turnbull said ho did not like the idea of a civic centre on. tho site of the fire station. His idea was a good deal more ambitious; probably it would be considered too ambitious. He would shift the Town Hall altogether to a site between Taranaki and Tory street, fronting Vivian street and facing the new museum. Mr. O'Shea: "And what is that going to cost1?"—" I don't think you are looking far enough aheacl. This city is going to carry. half a million of population." "What ycu are blaming us for is not looking far enough ahead." —The fire station site, replied Mr. Turnbull, was probably the finest fire brigade site in New Zealand. If it was not possible to move the station to as good a site, then it was possible to shift grass plots. Tlio proceedings are being continued to-day., ' .