BIG WELLINGTON SCHEME

Evening Post, Volume CXIX, Issue 108, 9 May 1935, Page 13

BIG WELLINGTON SCHEME

STRUCTURE IN STOUT STREET

NEW BUILDING FOR AUCKLAND

It is the intention of the Government to proceed immediately with an extensive building scheme for Government office accommodation in Wellington and Auckland. For Wellington it is proposed to construct a new Government Building in Stout Street, and to make extensive alterations in the lay-oiit of the buildings in the vicinity of the old wooden Government Buildings on Lambton Quay. In Auckland, it has been decided to erect a new Government Building on the site at present occupied by the old Shortland Street Post Office. Plans for both buildings are now in the course of preparation by the Government Architect.

The new Wellington Government Biulding will be a modern eight-storey edifice, and will be erected on a site in Stout Street at present occupied by the Post and Telegraph Department's linesmen's store. This area of Government land has a frontage to Stout Street and Maginnity Street, and covers an area of approximately half an acre, "When- completed, the new building should be a decided acquisition to the architecture of the city. Cabinet has approved .of .the .proposals, and in making that announcement today, the Minister of- Public Works (the Hon. J. Bitchener) added that plans were now in course of preparation.

Mr. Bitchener stated that when the Minister of Finance (the Bt. Hon. J. G. Cpates) presented the Budget last session of Parliament, he indicated that | it, was the Government's intention to embark on a building construction scheme in both Auckland and Wellington, and this was reflected by an item of £1000 set aside in the Estimates to cover the initial expenses.

,In the last few years there had Been an urgent necessity to curtail expenditure owing to the financial depression, but now that a trend for the better was apparent in the country's finances, the Government felt that the time was opportune to undertake the work proposed. Not only would the Government be giving a lead at a time when a lead was desirous by the offering of employment to a large number of workmen, but the undertaking would mean that the effects of the construction programme would be felt by the business community generally.

ECONOMICALLY SOUND,

In addition, Mr. Bitchener said, the proposals viewed from the financial aspect were economically sound. At present, State Departments were housed in nearly a score of privately-owned buildings in various.parts of the city, and in view of the fact that capita! charges on the new Government Building would not be nearly as great as the aggregate rentals the Government was now paying, on this account alone he felt that Government action now was wise.

Mr. Bitchener stated that the proposals were comprehensive, and in arriving at its decision Cabinet had in view,the necessities of the future. As was .well known," the present Government Building in Lambton Quay was very much: congested, with the result that certain departments were working under conditions of extreme difficulty, and further accommodation for the efficient carrying-out of Government work was essential.

- When completed), the new Railway Station would afford ample accommodation, for a big staff, and it was proposed to shift the entire Railways Head Office staff into the new station building offices which were to be situated on the upper floors. This would leave the present big Railways Head Office building in Featherston Street vacant, and it was proposed to transfer to this building several depart-

A BEAUTIFYING SCHEME.

THE NEW BUILDING SITE,

AUCKLAND PROPOSALS.

ments at present stationed in the big wooden Government Building. This would be the first step in the relief of the congestion in the present Government Building.

It was hot the Government's intention to demolish the main Government Building on Lambton Quay, but a comprehensive plan had been drawn up for the improvement of the site on which the wooden buildings stood. It was proposed to demolish the smaller buildings to the south and at the rear of the big building, and in their place lay out the ground in lawns and shrubs as part of a beautifying scheme. The buildings proposed to be demolished were old, badly ventilated, and overcrowded, and their occupants would be transferred mainly to the Railways Head Office building. Mr. Bitchener emphasised that one of the buildings, that in which the dental clinic and Land and Income Tax Department were housed, was erected during the war years as a temporary structure only. When the scheme for the beautifying of the site was carried out, the big • wooden building would be seen to much better advantage, and the area in the vicinity of the Parliament Buildings would present a striking appearance, worthy of the city which was the seat of Government.

The site on which it was proposed to build the new eight-storey building was ideally situated, as, when the building was completed, it would mean that practically all the important Government offices would be in the same vicinity. This would not only be a decided convenience for the public, said Mr. Bitchener, but the co-ordina-tion of offices should assist in the efficient carrying-out of Government work.

In regard to Auckland, a decision had been reached by the Government to erect a new building on the site between Shortland Street and Fort. Street at present occupied by the old Shortland Street Post Office. The Auckland City Council was desirous of acquiring a portion of the site for a connecting street between Shortland Street and Fort Street, which would be a continuation of High Street, and negotiations would now be entered into with the Auckland City Council in this connection. The Government Building," On account of its proximity to Queen Street; would be most conveniently situated from the point of view of the public, and its erection should fill a long-felt want so far as the accommodation of Government Departments in Auckland was concerned.

Plans for both buildings were now in course of preparation by the Government Architect (Mr. J. T. Mair).

The intention in regard to the Wellington building, said the Minister, was to arrange a separate contract for the construction of the foundations with a view to avoiding any delay consequent on the preparation of plans for the building itself.