OFFICES IN LONDON.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15549, 5 March 1914, Page 6

OFFICES IN LONDON.

The scheme formulated by Ear). Grey'for an imposing Dominions' building in the heart of London was alluring till its financial aspect} was considered. Then many prac» tical difficulties presented themr selves. It would have been very gratifying to Imperial sentiment had the Dominion Governments combined to erect the finest building in London on one of the most central and costly sites. Buildings covering three acres surmounted by a tower rising higher than the dome of St. Paul's would have been very impressive and would have had sorrje value in advertising the resources of the British Empire overseas. Whether the advertisement wouW have been worth its cost is extremely doubtful. Certainly from the New Zealand point of view the proposal had little to commend it as a commercial proposition; The Commonwealth of Australia had already decided to have separate offices om an adjoining site, leaving Canada, South Africa and New Zealand as possible occupiers of a joint Dominions' edifice. Presumably the portions of the building occupied byCanada and New Zealand respectively would have borne some proportion to the relative populations and resources of the two countries, and the contrast, emphasised by the proximity of the handsome building being erected for Australia, would have been disadvantageous to New Zealand. The smaller of the two Dominions would have gone to con-

siderable cost to secure a disadvantageous' comparison with Canada. Earl Grey is a persistent and successful missioner of Empire, but in this, instance his enthusiasm blinded him to practical difficulties. The unwillingness of Canada to participate was fatal to his scheme, and now comes the Prime Minister's statement that the erection of separate offices for the New Zealand Government will be proceeded with. The building, of which the King wiH shortly lay the foundation-stone, will be central, its site being not far from that of the proposed Bominions' building, and in every way worthy of New Zealand, while the cost will be considerably less than that involved in Earl Grey's proposal. The removal of the High Commissioner's office from the seclusion of Victoria Street to such an important thoroughfare as the Strand will result in added prestige and commercial advantage to New Zealand.