NEW ZEALAND'S LONDON OFFICES.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14829, 21 November 1913, Page 7

NEW ZEALAND'S LONDON OFFICES.

STATEMENT BY MR MACKENZIE

(ntOU OCR OWN CORRESPONDENT). LONDON, October 15. The High Commissioner, discussing tho new site for the New Zealand offices, tells mc that the lease will be for eighty or ninety years, and that the owners will erect a building to accommodate the New Zealand offices very much on tho lines to bo suggested by Now Zealand, so long as the requirements are reasonable Mr Mackenzie is now busily discussing the matter of staff arrangement with his officers, with a view to placing a definite scheme before tho owners. The building will probably cost from £15,000 to £20,000, and will bo of six floors, including the ground floor. As the ground space is about 5000 square feet, this will give 30,000 square feet of'office space, which" seems likely to-be ample for all requirements fpr some years to come.

Mr Mackenzie' tells mc this is the site which ho,recommended should be acquired, and which Mr Allen inspected when he was in London. It will be possible to make a good display of New Zealand produce.. It is part of Mr Mackenzie's scheme to have in the win dow display a miniature geyser and other representations characteristic of New Zealand. The High Commissioner believes that the new building will be completed and ready for occupation within about eighteen months.

Mr Gilbert Anderson, asked his opinion of tho change, said:—"lt is certainly timo that the New Zealand Government office was moved from Victoria street, if they wish to keep pace with modern requirements. The present offices are in quite what may •be termed a - 'back water.' There is little or no traffic, and it requires a special trip to go to the offices as Victoria street leads to nowhere in particular. The interests of the Dominion are so varied that you must be careful in the selection of- your site. Tho ideal site- for this purpose is any placo between Charing Cross and the Law Courts. There have been various proposals to concentrate the offices of the many Dominions, but one recognises that as far as New Zealand is concerned it is necessary . that she should remain individually distinct. She : cannot afford to sink her identity and bo lost in common representation with either Australia or other States. On this ground I think it is wise that the New Zealand Government have not been brought under the shadow of the new Australian building, nor yet included in Earl Grey's more ambitions scheme. The site which I understand has been chosen is right in the centre of considerable traffic, and will, therefor, be in tho position of advertising itself to the public. This will be more apparent as soon as the scheme for widening the Strand at this particular place has been effected. Personally, I should have preferred tho New Zealand Government to secure a corner site. The position chosen, however, is convenient to the Government Offices at Westminster, and on the track of easy conveyance to the City for finance and snipping. The products of the Dominion can be easily advertised, and its attractions for tho purpose of emigration brought before the public."