CIVIC CENTRE SCHEME.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19558, 10 February 1927, Page 10

CIVIC CENTRE SCHEME.

COMMISSION'S PROPOSALS.

POLL- OF RATEPAYERS URGED. NOTICE OF MOTION GIVEN* A proposal that the scheme for a civic centre suggested by tho Civic Centre Condmission should be submitted to a poll of the ratepayers' has been made by Mr. A. Thompson, a member of the Auckland City Council, in a notice of motion to be dealt with at the meeting of the council next Thursday. Mr. Thompson proposes that the poll should be taken on April 27, the day of the municipal elections.

Mr. Thompson has given further notice as follows:—"That as the only way to secure an expression of opinion from the ratepayers is to ask their sanction to a loan, they be asked to vote for a, loan sufficient to erect the first portion of the art gallery, and that the portion of the civic square recommended by the commission for commercial purposes be' offered for lease on such terms and! conditions as the council may determine, and the development of the remainder for the more efficient handling of traffic be immediately proceeded with." The question of utilisation of the market site in Queen Street was before the Council of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday, as the result oi a letter from Mr. .Ralph L. Ziman. Mr. Ziman laid stress on the necessity for looking ahead and planning the future centre of the city on right lines. He suggested the immediate acquisition by the City Council, of the additional land recommended by the Civic Centre Commission, aqd the subdivision of the whole site—land acquired and land already held—for, say, 25 years for business purposes. By accumulating the revenue a magnificent' fund for civic improvement could be, created, while an opening would be afforded to the many small shopkeepers who were unable to afford Queen Street rents. It was decided to forward a copy of the letter to the City Council.