CHANGING WHITEHALL

Hokitika Guardian, 9 June 1930, Page 7

CHANGING WHITEHALL

BUILDING GOVEi UN MENT OFFICES.

LONDON, April 24

The decision of the Government to demoii.sii .Montagu House in Whitehall and replace it with more suitably con-

structed Government -office buildings will shatter one of the dreams of the National Theatre movement. For a long time the leadeis of that movement have toyed with the idea of persuading the Government to allow them to build a tlicu.fie there, and now they will have to abandon it. Whitehall soon is- to have a little theatre of another type, hut that will lie a private venture. There will be no demur to the l- runs for oUmolisliing; Montagu House; the property was purchased from the Duke of Buccleuch before the war to provide additional accommodation for Government requirements, and it has been used ever since ns the headquarters of the Ministry of Labour. Buildings designed as private residences are, as a rule, ill-adapted for office work and Montagu House was no exception. Plans for a new building have been long in eistenee, but a decision has yet to be made whether to use these plans—prepared by Mr Vincent Harris—or to secure by competition a new set, When the builders get. to work, one of the pleasantest feature.', of Whitehall will disappear—the cluster of elms fronting the former ducal residence, The'■decision as to flip tyre of building will be awaited with interest; it will face the Home Office, designed by Sir Gilbert Scott, and the Treasurv, designed by Sir Charles Barry. The common hope will be that no attempt will be made to strike such a discontent note as lias been introduced further up Whitehall Oy the erection opposite a building by Tnigo Jones, now used by the United Services Institute, of a new Admiralty extension with bank premises on the street level of red brick and stoneframed windows. .' ,