AUCKLAND GOVERNMENT HOUSE.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 802, 27 April 1910, Page 4

AUCKLAND GOVERNMENT HOUSE.

- TO BE CLOSED UP. EFFECTS QUIETLY (By Telegraph—Bnecial OorresionienU Auckland, April 28. The Auckland "Star" says that, despite the storm of protest from ■' Auckland members, it would appear that the Government 'is determined to proceed with its plan for doing away with the Gov-. ernor's official residence in Auckland. A few days ago the whole o£ the valuable furniture and fittings contained in Government House were removed, and sold at auction. The sale was condncted at a local furnishing warehouse, and the Government's name did: not appear in'the transaction at all, nor did the vast majority of people know that the valuable furniture of Government House, was.being disposed of by auction. The gubernatorial, premises have now been strippod, and even telephonio communication has been cut off. It would therefore appear that Auckland is to henceforth be without a residence for- the King's representative in this Dominion, lhe. Government is evidently intent on carrying out its proposal to deprive Auckland of a Government House. la the Budget proposals of last session the Prime' Minister announced that it was intended to hand over the Government House site in Auckland for university purposes, and to spend a large sum of money in erecting an up-to-date university building on it. ;

■ A strong protest was immediateh" raised by all the 'Auckland members (Government as well as the Opposition, with but one exception), and the Gov-' eminent, was asked what substitute it' proposes to give for the Government' House, of which the city was to be deprived. Tho answer was not a satisfactory one, and was tantamount to an assertion v that the north'will, in future," havo to be satisfied with a makeshiftGovernor's residence—probably' a rented furnished house in Princes Street; or some other part-of the city. : -.'.. . ■ When interviewed npon the matter, Mr. Ai.E. Glover, member for the Ctty Central, stated that he had heard .nothing' of the proposal to deplete Government House of the furniture at present there and closing it down definitely. He had been given to understand that a certain, area of land attached to the house waa. to bo handed over, either to the University College or to the Grammar School. .......

"1/have already stated in Parliament,". Mr. Glover pointed out, "that this land' is tlw heritagq of. tho people, a,rid l< shall' exercise every constitutional • means "available to Tetain the grounds for the people of Auckland. I regret exceedingly to learn, that the Government are contemplating, or have decided, to remove the whole of the furniture from" Government House for the purpose of taking it to 'Wellington—then'to adorn the new residence being . built for the Governor. I can give you my 'positive assurance' that I shall exercise my best and: strongest' influence, in the direction of keeping the good old traditions of the past faithfully safeguarded, and, so far as.the land is concerned, I shall, in. season and out of' season, use my influence to have it preserved for the people of Auckland."'