THE OLD MAGISTRATE'S COURT BUILDING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15504, 10 January 1914, Page 4

THE OLD MAGISTRATE'S COURT BUILDING.

Sir,—ln the Herald of December 27 appeared a letter under the above heading, drawing attention to a very urgent matter. A new building has been provided for the Magistrate's Courts and offices : but. what about the Deeds and Stamp Departments, which remain in the old building? It is plain that the accommodation provided tor them is altogether inadequate and unsuitable. Surely there is no more important department in the public service than the Land Transfer and Deeds Department, which is responsible for the legal titles for all land in the district; and which, in Auckland, has to work under conditions that would not be tolerated for a moment in the case of. say, a post office. It is obvious to anyone who baa business with the Department that there are absolutely no facilities worthy of the name provided for dealing with the important legal documents which are presented for registration; and that at busy times the state of affairs is almost scandalous. The writer of the letter referred to makes a proposition regarding a new building, and suggests that the Chamber of Commerce should take the matter up. There &eems no good reason why the waste ground in front of the old building in High Street should not be utilised in the manner suggested. It must be obvious that it would be a great advantage to have the Crown Lands and Survey Offices in the same building with the Land Transfer and Deeds sad Stamp Offices. I believe that great risks are being run, and much damage to plans and'

records is caused through the above offices being at a distance from one another, and the plans, etc., having to be carried about. It if, also most inconvenient for surveyors and lawyers and the public. I understand that there is great dancer of irregularities occurring, owing to the registrar not having proper control of his plane and records. Surely these dans and records, once lodged in the Land Transfer Office, should not be allowed out of the registrar's control! I believe, too, that owing to the congestion in the Land Transfer and Deeds Offices, important documents are liable to go astray. This certainly should not be. Then there must be great waste of time, and much hindrance to the work, owing to the complete lack of facilities, and owing to the fact that the officials who have to check the plans are at a distance from the Land Transfer Office. At present these officials are in Customs Street. 1 understand, too, that the Department has to rent a large room in another building for some of its staff. I am told that such bad conditions do not prevail in any other office of the Department. This is most unfair to the officials who have to carry on the work at Auckland, where there must be far more work than in any other office in the Dominion. I believe that representations have been made to the authorities, but the matter has been shelved for lack of funds. But money is found for other purposes far less important. Is it not time that the citizens and commercial men of Auckland took up the matter and insisted upon the conditions being made reasonable and safe' Look at the Post Office, and tlio facilities there provided, quite properly ! Cannot something like that bo done for the Land Transfer and Deeds, as well as for the Stamp Office, which latter office, by the way, collects a large amount of revenue? I do not know whether there would be room on the site in High Street for the Supreme Court, but I am certain that there is urgent need for a new and up-to-date building on the site in question tor the use of the other Departments mentioned. If the Survey Department wens provided for at High Street, it would set free office accommodation in the Customs Street building, which, I understand, is badly needed for other departments. Hoping that this letteT will help to draw attention to a crying need. Practical.