Mr. Fraser Explains Carlton Hotel Purchase

Chronicle (Levin), 18 February 1949, Page 5

Mr. Fraser Explains Carlton Hotel Purchase

WELLINGTON, Feb. 17. The New Zeaiand Government paid £325,000 for tlie site acquired from tlie Carltdn Hotel Company in London for jSTew Zeaiand Government olfices, Mr. Fraset aiinounced today. "Aecording to the best expert opin ion available, the purchase price ^ is considered satisfactory, particularly when compared with other land transactions in the Central London area,' ,said the Prime Minister. "It may be advantageous at a later date to acquire also the land occupied by Kis Majesty's Theatre. ' ' The area purehased, said the Prime Minister, wgs held under Crown lease but a former lease which was due to expire in 1970, hafl been sul'fendered in ex^hange for a new lease lor 99 -years at^'a Crown rent df '£16,b'()0 vper. annuqi.. riie rents payabie i »y existing tenancies amounted to £30,440. In the meant.ime the existing tenancies in the buildings on the site were being continaed on a suitablo leasehold basis. The Carlton Hotel Company itself was continuing to oper ate the Carlton bar -and grill in the basement. The remainder of the block was occupied by the United Kingdom Ministry of Works, His Majesty's Theatre, the oceupants of • the - Royaj Of)era Arcade and by two sho'ps. ;The eyentnal .transfer 'of the High CommisSibner 's oftice frohi New Zeoland House in The §trand, to the new premises, would bring together under oue roof (for the first time in many years), all -New Zeaiand Government ofliees in London. At the present time, in addition to?sections located at New Zeaiand House which were very ( ongested, branches were situathd at Halii'ax Ilouse, Bt." Olaf House in Tooiey Street 'and at premises in Henriettu Street, Covent Garden. The slores indents branc.h of the High Commissioner's office would shortly move to the Adelphi building in which space had recently been leased. ' ' It is, of course, always a matter oi' regret that the excellent building in such a line position in Tlie Strand, which was ac.quired by a previeus Gov- / ernment for the New Zeaiand Govern.ment London offices, shouid have beeh sold during the early tliirties to ♦he Government of Southem Rhodesia, sai'd the Prime Minister.