AN IMPERIAL SCHEME.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1814, 29 July 1913, Page 5

AN IMPERIAL SCHEME.

DOMINIONS IN LONDON,

ALDWYCH SITE PROPOSED.

'An interesting enterprise whloli 'has been projected by Earl Grey, ex-Governor-General of Canada, is that of concentrating the London offices of the various Dominions' Governments under one roof, in Aldwyoh, besido the offices of the Commonwealth.

Some information regarding Earl Grery's proposal was obtained from the Hon. Jas. Allen, who discussed the matter with Earl Grey when, he was in London. The proposal is to creato a central resort for all visitors from overseas to the capital ofthe Brjpdre. The .Aldwych site is splendidly situated for the purpose. It is a space of some acres in extent, fronting the Strand and in the heart of official London. Eari Grey proposes that not only should the various High Commissioners be provided with office accommodation on the Aldwych git©, but that _ boarding-places should be provided for visiting oolonia-ls. The Viotorian Government already owns a building : on the Aldwych area, and the Commonwealth Government has acquired another portion and has let a- contract for the erection of a handsome building, of winch the King laid the foundation stone a few days ago. The rest of tlie extensive area is at present clear, save at one corner, where tho' Gaiety Theatre stands. 'As wns indicated in. a recent cablegram, Earl .Grey proposes to vest the Aldwycli land 'in a privato syndicate, which would undertake to ereot buildings and leaso thorn to the Dominions. Mr. Allen gathered, however, that no objection would' be raised to any of the_ Dominions requiring a freehold site provided an arrangement could be come to with the London County Council. Tho tenure jow offered is a long lease from that authority. When Mr. Allen last saw Larl Grey, he was trying to obtain a freehold ot tho viol e area, but from the cablegram of a few days ago it seems that ho did not succeed.' There is no doubt, Mr. Allen. stated, that the Aldwych site, or one upon the Strand itsplf, would bo a much better location for the New High Commissioner'!! offices than the b'uklins which, he now occupies in Victoria Street. Tho Commonwealth of Australia has purchased the freehold of that portion of the Aldwych site upon which its building is to stand, at a cost of about A 370,000. The building itself is to cost _ some ,£225,000, so that the Commonwealth is committed to a total expenditure of approximately dECOO.OOO. The offices will a<> commodate the High Commissioner and his staff, and representatives of the six States. ■ In the event of the New Zealand authorities desiring to hnvo their headquarters in the building, according to an article in the, London Standard, the necessary provision can readily be maoe, A number of New • Z&alanders who have been in London during tho last year or two, when approached on the subject, agreed in stating that the present location of the High Commissioner at 13 Victoria Street loft a good deal to. be desired. The offices comprise two Boots of a big bnt unpretentious building. ■ Ihe Canadian Government offices and those of West Australia are adjacent. Victoria Street is a wide thoroughfare*. winning from Victoria Station, one of the biggest in London, to Westminster Abbey. ~lt is comparatively near to the Government offices and tho Houses of Parliament, but is nevertheless a little removed from the main line of traffio in that part of Another objection to the New Zealand offices in Victoria Street is that they are quite inadequate to accommodate the High, Commissioner and his staff. Tears ago they were overcrowded, and to-riay the overcrowding, with-, its attendant inconvenience, is considerably' accentuated. Some of the Government officers in London, including the Customs expert (Mr. Spence) and the representative of the Agricultural Department, are located in senaTate offices.' • , For some time past the Government has been seeking a new looation and tentative negotiations are in progress for a site in the Strand, .opposite Charing Cross station. ' > It is understood, . however, that the matter is'quite open, aftd that there is nothing to, prevent the Governmemt, if it elects to do so, securing a habitation for its London representative and- his staff on the Aldwych site. The general opinion of those who have had experience of the position in don seems to favour the Strand or its immediate neighbourhood as a site iot the New Zealand offices. Whether some of the Dominions would-gain at the expense of othcTS. in the -matter of. securingimmigrants and so forth if their offices were concentrated as suggested, is ; a difficult one to decide, but the idea of creating an Imneria.l headquarters in the heart of official London is ono that obviously appeals. to Now ZeaJanders who have visited the. Homeland', and the arrangement would probably be much more convenient from a business point of view than the present one under which -the offices of the Dominions are scattered about in different parts of the city. Some of those who were spoken to inclined to the opinion that if Barl Grey's scheme materialised* as it hnd some prospect of doing", the oveTSPa Dominions and theiT affairs would pain, a prominence which they .could scaroely hope to gain in any flther way. 1 ■ • .