TOWN HALL ENVIRONMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14868, 20 December 1911, Page 10

TOWN HALL ENVIRONMENT.

STATEMENT BY THE MAYOR. .THE MATTER TO BE DISCUSSED. | Several proposals having been, advanced lately for the improvement of the neighbourhood of the Town Hall, the Mayor (Mr. C. J. Parr) was asked yesterday as to whether the Council was inclined to take up the question. ~ The Mayor admitted that it was very desirable that some steps should be taken to improve the surroundings. "I have . seen," he said, "some excellent designs, showing beautiful 10-storey arcades and sweeping boulevards around the Town 'Hall, but people must not forget that to carry out such schemes must involve the city in the expenditure of a very large amount of money. The position, also, is influenced by the fact that. the leases of all our properties there have yet 10 years to run, and we should be > called " upon tby the lessees to pay large sums in compensation if we; undertook the work of rebuilding at once. I The Council is very, anxious. to do someI thing to improve ; the neighbourhood, and will probably discuss the matter at an early date. -V, A m , "In my opifliciwhojveyer," proceeded Mr. Parr, "th||ySTOttcil will do well to give its main a4teu r tiflu during the next few months to Thawing question of street •improvements. ■ For many'years we have neglected to go.,into the street' question with that thoroughness its importance demands. If the Council does this after the New Year, when the Town Hall functions are over; and its 1 ; hands are free, it will be doing better service for the community than, by attempting without adequate funds to reconstruct the Town Hall area."