A WINTER GARDEN

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 56, 7 March 1944, Page 4

A WINTER GARDEN

MOVE IN WELLINGTON

The reserves committee of the City* Council was asked by a deputations from the Wellington Beautifying Soci-J ety yesterday afternoon to support aj scheme for the building in the city ofi a winter garden. Councillor R. LJ Macalister presided. j Loan proposals would soon' be formulated, said Captain S. Holm, wha thought a winter garden should be mi eluded. Every city of any pretensions; throughout the world had spent thousands of pounds on such gardens. The one in Wanganui had cost, he believed, £3000, but to do the right thing for Wellington would cost £12,000. Mr. H. B. Gibbons, president of the] Royal Institute of Agriculture, saidj that' Wellington was lacking in the] possession of spots where, in pleasing surroundings, passive recreations; could be enjoyed,' and where there was physical and mental rest. •; Councillor J. D. Sievwright: Thii would not clash with the Civic Centrej No, said Mr. Gibbons, this sort on thing was growing up all over New] Zealand. If they could make it fori £10,000 they would be lucky. | Mrs. A. J^Du Pont suggested thafs the scheme he taken up as a rehabilitation idea. Perhaps the Government would give a considerable subsidy* After all, Wellington was. the Capital City of New Zealand; it was practical-* ly the heart of New Zealand, and so1 the garden should be near the heart of Wellington rather than in the Botanw cal Gardens. It would contain not only recreational blessings, but would be an educational factor also, as people could study plant life. QUESTION OF COST. The whole thing hung on the ques\ tion of cost, said Mr. G. BeckettJ Everyone would welcome a winter garden if it could be brought here. Atthe last Exhibition in Wellington, he1 believed, the Australian building had' cost £10,000, and it had been given to! the Government. They might be able, to get the glass that was in it, as well! as part of the structure itself, which," might reduce the estimates for the; winter garden. • The garden, on a central block would be an embellishment! to the city. j The Auckland winter garden, saidj Councillor M. F. Luckie, had been al gift by Sir George Elliott, while DuneJ din's was given.by Messrs. Ross andj Glendining. ; Councillor R. L. Macalister, what' presided, said that they appreciated! the civic spirit behind the societyi Anyone who went away from WeW lington to other cities must appreciate] the beauties of the winter gardens they saw there. Wellington for manyj years had remained behind other] cities in regard to' some such provi-*, sion. There were, it was true, othei^ proposals before the ratepayers. Whei ther the council would put this one before them he did not know, but iti would be necessary for the proposers to have plans ready if it did. At leasti £10,000 would have to be proyidedJ The matter would be given considera-j tion.- " . i