NEW LONDON OFFICES.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LII, Issue 17009, 16 April 1926, Page 2

NEW LONDON OFFICES.

FOR- -N EW Z E'ALAND GOVERNMENT BETTER THAN FORMER SITE. COST £157,500. The New Zealand Government Tias acquired new premises piy* London for tho High Commissioner's and other offices. The cost was-£157.500. “It has been recognised' for 1 some time.” said tho Prime Minister, the Right Hon. .T. G. Coates; “that the present building in which the High Commissioner's office is situated is factory from the point- of view 61 aconnnodatioii or storage room, nor 1 is the building in the prominent • pOftd inn to impress the general- public with the importance- of this Dominion. iCis nbt a corner site, and the adjoining premises are a theatre and a hotel. ‘‘The acquisition of a building which ' ‘would, from a locality and acCommodaton standpont, fulfil the requirements of the High Commissioner’s Office, situated in a position where window' displays ot Now Zealand produce, ehr., would’ come prominently before tlio British- public has, therefore, been kept in view, and | I am' pleased to -state that -the negotia-i tions for the purchase of such a building have now been concluded. A PROMINENT BUILDING. “Pfhe building purchased on behalf of the Dominion is a prominent one situated at the corner of the Strand and Agar street, a few hundred yards nearer Trafalgar Square thiin the-present site, and in dose proximity to Charing Cross Station. It is a very substantial structure, consisting of a basement and six stories, having' a frontago to tlio Strand of approximately 50ft., a return frontage- to Agar street of over 100 ft. The Hour space is approximately 31,000 square feet, compared with,23,500 square feet in our' present building; it'would, however, bo possible to add further floor space to the new purchase with minor structural alterations. * “The building cbntains a magnificent and imposing library, covering an area of ,2600 square feet, compared '- with'i 850 square feet in the present'building’, this would, of course, result in greater accommodation and 'comfort for New Zealand visitors and-'the many-people interestedin New Zealand visiting the- High’ Convt missionor’s office for information. “The storage, basement covers an area of 5900 square feet, compared with approximately 350 square feet now available, and this extra accommodation will fit an urgent requirement of the High Commissioner’s Office. “On the ground 1 floor there are five large windows in comparison with twoin the : present building, and these would enable the display of Now Zealand produce. scenery;, etc., in a much more efficient and prominent manner to the public than in the present building. At present there is a portion of the ground floor used as a cinema theatre, and it is proposed to use approximately otffl thousand square feet of this as a private cinema for the display of New Zealand film*! an attractive and valuable form of advertisement fol- the Dominion. “The purchase- price’ for the-property,• which includes the freehold of the land and buiidmg, is £157,500. THE PRESENT LEASE. ' “It is anticipated that there will be no difficulty in disposing of the lease of tho present building, at a price satisfactory to the ■ Dominion, and the increasing value of property in London, which should still further enhance on' tho completion of a scheme for widening the , Strand, makes the acquisition' of tho new property a first-class investment- for tlio Dominion. “Briefly, the Dominion now has: 1. An imposing corner site with five ground floor windows for advertising purposes, and in more' .suitable environment. 2. Extra, ofiire arcommodation with room for expansion over present requirements. ;

3. A move suitable arrangement- of rooms, enabling grouping of the different sections of the High Commissioner’s staff, thus facilitating the work considerably i "4. Addition, to - storage room - in the basement which was urgently required. s'. A small cinema which will be of great, value for advertising and propaganda purposes. 6. A large library giving comfort and convenience to visitors to the High Commissioner's Office 1 .- 7. A freehold building of substantial structure, well lighted, arid in excellent condition; the property- being: freehold, with a commanding position, should improve in value as time: goes on. ' “I feel contident that aIL persons who have a personal knowledge of the locality will agree that we have be6n able ti> secure at comparatively low cost a very valuable freehold property, splendidly situated in the centre of London, of