THE WANTS OF WANGANUI.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1000, 15 December 1910, Page 8

THE WANTS OF WANGANUI.

4 DEPUTATION TO DR. FINDLAY. (By Telegraph.—Special CorrecnondentJ Wanganui, December 14. A deputation representing tho Wanganui Law Society, the Chamber of Commerce, the Mayor ami council waited on the Attoruey-Uißeral (Dr. Findlay) today in reference to the site of the new courthouse, for which the Government has already set aside ,£2OOO for initial expenses. It was suggested that the best site was one of tho Queen Park frontages at the corner of Redgwav Street and Museum lioad. Tho deputation also pointed out that the pressnt Court building could be used to accommodate the Native Land Court and various Government Departments which were now scattered about tli-s town in various offices.

In reply, tho Attorney-General said that, looking at the courthouse yesterday, it seemed to him that the Government had been too generous in committing itself to build a new one. In many part; of New Zealand they were still having courts of justice held in publichouses, and in what he could only describe as barns. The need of ordinarily decent accommodation for magistrates was an increasing demand which was hard to satisfy, and while such claims existed in both Islands,the Government had had no right to be generous to those who were already fairly well provided for. The member for Wanganui had, however, been very persistent, and his persistency had been rewarded, but the Minister thought tco early. • He thought that JEIOOO spent on improvements to the present building ought to suffice -for some time. .However, ■ the Government had given a. promise which it must, of course, make good. They must look to the future, and provide a good building. If a suitable site could be provided without any demand oil the Government for payment a good building could be erected, but, if a large amount of the vote were required for land,- then, of course, the . building would suffer. Ho hoped, therefore, that 110 condition for- compensation would be laid upon the Government.' Regarding sites, he thought that in Queen s Park an ideal one, and hoped that, none of the frontages there would be let for business purposes, as the inevitable backyards and outbuildings would disfigure "the locality for public purposes, and would cause tho Government to hesitate before erecting a fine- public, building , there. He concluded by suggesting that the Mayor and council should consider the matter and make a definite offer, when the Government would return a definite answer as to what they, were prepared to . do. The matter of establishing a land, transfer office here was also laid before the Minister, the delay and .expense of the present system of registration in Wellington being emphasised.

Dr.' Findlny recognised the merits of the application, but- tho difficulty was that directly such an advantage was conceded to Wanganui he knew of at least five other places which would put in a. similar claim. It was, in fact, exactly this difficulty which had killed the .ill to .deal with the matter which was introduced last session. It would destroy the system if they multiplied such offices too freely. He suggested that tho depnfatioil should collect-data of tho population and number of transactions involved, and forward tbsin to the Government,