“Not Unduly Ornate But Efficient”

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 160, 27 September 1927, Page 9

“Not Unduly Ornate But Efficient”

COMMENT ON NEW STATION CONTINENTAL IDEA APPROVED “It is not unduly ornate but it gives an iimpression of efficiency stated Mr. A. G. Lunn, president of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce, when invited this morning to give ari opinion on the plan and perspective of the new Auckland railway station. H E was very pleased to learn that satisfactory progress had been made with the initial preparations and that the work would soon be put in hand. The general design, he considered, was good, particularly the provision for a wide plaza, flower beds and lawns in front of the entrance. Although the first impression did not compare favourably with the Dunedin station, he considered that, viewed, say, from Beach Road, the building, when finished after the style of the Remuera Dibrary, would be quite an imposing structure. The provision for rubber-paved floorways, which would help to obviate a good deal of noise, and the separate grouping of the business portion of the station and the platforms, after the Continental idea, were also features of the new station that should meet with general approval. From the plan he gathered that it had been designed with a view to utility, economy and efficiency. He was pleased to see that the department had obtained architectural advice outside of the department, thus getting away from the stereotyped idea. At the same time he considered that in designing all public buildings the Government should go a step further and call for a variety of plans on a competitive basis. “NOT VERY IMPOSING” It is certainly very satisfactory to note that something is at last being done in regard to a new station, remarked Mr. J. C. Allum, president of the Auckland Manfacturers’ Association. From what one could gather of the plan It would appear that passenger traffic and luggage would be efficiently dealt with. He was, also pleased to see that the Continental system of placing the tracks and platforms away from the station building proper had been adopted. “The building itself was certainly not very imposing," he added, “but it would certainly be an improvement on the facilities that at present served the city.' “On the sloping ramp leading up to the passenger entrance provision for tram tracks are shown,” said Mr. Allum. “Now that the loan had been turned down, that, of course, was out of the question.” A local architect, questioned regarding the plan, declined to make any comment, stating that he was not going to criticise It in any way. “I could, but I wouldn’t,” he added.