A NECESSARY EVIL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 17662, 24 December 1920, Page 6

A NECESSARY EVIL.

Only the pressure of post-war reconstruction warrants Mr. Parr in asking and the City Council in granting the use of the hospital annexe in the Domain for a period of three years. The building is an ugly blot on a beautiful landscape, and but for special circumstances should not have been permitted to survive its original purpose. It has now stood for seven years: its perpetuation for another three years would be unspeakable were there not many weighty reasons in favour of its retention. The Minister for Education has explained that he needs more teachers, that he hopes to attract recruits to the profession, and requires immediately an additraining college for them. The council could dispute neither the urgency of his request nor the difficulty of finding alternative accommodation. It therefore acquiesced after the Minister had agreed to a time-limit. The public will expect this time-limit to be loyally observed. As a past Mayor of the city, Mr. Parr must recognise that the council has granted him a special favour in sanctioning the perpetuation of such an eyesore a s the annexe, and that, even if the building were unexceptionable, the department would be but a, privileged trespasser on the Domain. The Minister will best show his gratitude by erecting within the stipulated period a training college worthy of Auckland.