CORRESPONDENCE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume L, Issue 3974, 23 July 1929, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

Si|r, —Coul dyou inform your readers why .the Plunket Society did not go on with their building on the Courthouse site? It seems' strange that after the Minister (the Hon. Mr. Wilford) gave them pennission to erect the building on the site provided that it was in keeping with the Courthouse, that the matter was dropped. If insufficient money was not raised by the carnival .to complete the building straight away the interior could have been finished later, a little at a time. If, as your paper suggested, the Plunket rooms could be combined with a public reading-room and library or a rest room, the Borough {Council could have subsidised the amount and completed the whole thing. It is a pity to let such a splendid offer pass as there is no better site in the town for the purposes named. I do,hope .that the -Society will let the chance slip by. I think some explanation is necessary. Yours etc., INTERESTED. [THE Society were advised that.if the Courthouse site was selected it gave no security of tenure and in the event of the (Society going out of existence the building would revert- (to the Crown and, further, that the building could only remain there at the pleasure of the Crown. The Borough Council could not expend money on the building for any dual purpose, unless both site and building were vested in the Council. The land being a deed* of gift to the Crown would pwLsibly preclude Parliament from transferring same. The site is undoubtedly the best for the purpose and if the Plunket Society are prepared .to go on under the conditions laid, down by the .Minister —.and possibly the land would not be required for any other purpose for .the next 50 years—there is nothing to prevent the Society from placing the building there, provided the funds are sufficient for the purpose. —: Ed.ll.]