WAR MEMORIAL SCHEME.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19508, 11 December 1926, Page 10

WAR MEMORIAL SCHEME.

PROPOSALS FOR WELLINGTON. MR. HURST SEAGER'S PLANS, [BY TELEGRAM.—OWN CORRESPONDENT. ] WELLINGTON, Friday. Proposals for the creation of a magnificent group of departmental buildings in the close vicinity of the Parliamentary buildings are propounded by Mr. S. Hurst Seager -in the course of a report which he has submitted to the Government on the question of a site for the proposed Wellington citizens' war memorial. The matter of expenditure it not, however, included. Dealing with the question as towhether the erection of a monument on the site outside the Parliamentary grounds, would interfere with . future developments, Mr. Seager advances the forecast that Molesworth Street will undoubtedly have to be widehed at no very distant date. Ho recommends that the land opposite Parliament Buildings be secured by the Government so that there would be. land enough to accommodate the whole of the Government departments in that area. ,

" There is an opportunity,'' adds Mr. Seager, "for a magnificent group of public buildings, which should be taken advantage of, now that the major part of the property is of a very ramshackle nature. From an artistic point of viewit is of little value erecting a fine Parliament Hquse if the encircling properties are not in accord with it, and this control can only bo effected by the resumption not only of the north-eastern side o! Molesworth Street as far as Hill Street, but also of the north side of Hill Stveeti as far as the Roman Catholic Cathedral and the triangle between the Turnbull Library, Bowen Street and Lambtou Quay.

" In this way there may bo created in * the future a magnificont group of Government buildings round the Parliament Square worthy of the Dominion, and one which would compare most favourably with any group of Government office,i elsewhere. The buildings already erected, for various Government- departments in different parts 01 the city could easily be let or sold for ordinary commercial purposes and new ones erected round Parliament Square in accordance with m well-considertid and predetermined scheme. The possibility of this area for future development of Government requirements shows the necessity of not erecting a monument which would in any way prevent the beat scheme from being carried out."