COURT HOUSE AT NEW PLYMOUTH

Southland Times, Issue 23287, 25 August 1937, Page 6

COURT HOUSE AT NEW PLYMOUTH

STATEMENT BY MR MASON RECONSTRUCTION PLANS OUTLINED (United Press Association) WELLINGTON, August 24. The intention of the Government to push forward steadily with the reconstruction of court houses in order of urgency in those places in the Dominion where existing buildings and facilities were unsatisfactory, was mentioned by the Minister of Justice (the Hon. H. G. R. Mason) when referring tonight to the presentation- by the Grand Jury about the court building at New Plymouth. The foundation stone of the new Blenheim court house had just been laid, the plans of the new Invercargill court house were now ready and plans for a new court house at Christchurch were in course of preparation. Some preliminary preparations were being made with a view to rebuilding the New Plymouth court house, but no serious progress would be possible with the actual work until the Christchurch plans were out of hand as the Christchurch job was a particularly big one. This meant that it would not be possible to consider the serious part of the New Plymouth work before the coming year was well advanced. The Minister said he regretted as much as anyone the most unsatisfactory condition of affairs at New Plymouth. Unfortunately, however, a great number of court houses had similarly been allowed to fall below the proper standard. It was not possible to rebuild them all at once but the programme of reconstruction would be pushed forward steadily and he believed the coming year would not elapse before work would be begun on a new building in which New Plymouth would be entitled to take pride.