"DOMINION HOUSE" SCHEME

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2120, 11 April 1914, Page 6

"DOMINION HOUSE" SCHEME

\f 8 , ! AUCKLAND SUPPORT. (By Telegraph,—Press Association.), Auckland, April 10. A largely-attended meeting of the •Executive Council of tho Chamber of Commerce was held yesterday afternoon to consider Earl Grey's Dominion House scheme. Tho president of the Chamber (Mr. B. Kent) occupied tho chair, and the Mayor (Mr. C. J. Parr) and the chairman of the Harbour Board (Mr. H. Gunson) were also present, and expressed themselves strongly in favour of tho scheme. Mr. Kent stated that tho establishment on the proposed site of a Dominion Houso would enable —(1) The Governments of the self-gov-erning Dominions and ■ their various States and provinces to concentrate on one central site their offices, now widely distributed-in different parts of London. (2) The attention of the Home consumer to bo effectively and impressively focussed on the products of tho Dominions oversea. (3) Manufacturers of tho United Kingdom to ascortain and to meet tho requirements of Greater Britain. The meeting unanimously decided to commend the schemo to the favourable consideration of the Government. Earl Grey, who arrived by tho Niagara shortly afterwards, said that if New Zealand, Canada, and South Africa wero to agree to the scheme it would be an accomnlislied fact. When Earl Grey was in New Zealand recently thero was a good deal of talk about his Dominions' House scheme, and the possibility was indicated that New Zealand might eventually decide to become a partner in the scheme. This seemed surprising in view_ of the fact that New Zealand has obtained an eighty years, leaso of a site in the Strand on which to establish its_ London office, but the explanation is simple. The Prime Minister, when the matter was mentioned tp him last evening, said that the present intention was to establish tho London office of the Dominion on the Strand site. He was advised, however, that such a good bargain had been obtained that if Now Zealand at any timo in the future elected to become a partner in the Dominions' House scheme, it could easily lease the Strand site at a profit.