Civic Pride will be Increased.
The view that the new station would increase the feeling of civic pride already possessed by the people of Wellington was expressed by the Mayor.
Mr. Hislop said it was his privilege, on behalf of the citizens of Wellington, to join in the expressions of gratification at the opening of the station. The day marked the culmination of over twenty years of endeavour, because it was in 1914 that power was given to the then Minister to undertake consideration
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of the question of a new central station for Wellington. Mr. Hislop said he desired, on behalf of the Corporation, to express to the Railway Department and the Government its appreciation of the spirit of co-operation that had been shown in the preparation of the site and the erection of the building. Before the work could be started, it was necessary that many questions, involving land owned by the Department and land owned by the city, and transport problems, should be settled, and he wished to let the people of Wellington know that throughout all those difficult and often delicate negotiations the Department and the Government had acted in a spirit of reason and fairness and with consideration of local interests.
Now that those ancient structures at Thorndon and Lambton were definitely things of the past, they should consider what the new station would mean to the people of Wellington. “Consider the fact,” said Mr. Hislop, “that when the electrification is completed Tawa Flat will be as near to the centre of the city as Miramar. Consider the adjacent areas which are going to be brought within fifteen or twenty minutes of the city. These areas will become available for the purpose of accommodating the people of Wellington. It means that ultimately all these areas will, I hope, come into one general administration. and thereby provide in a radius of twenty miles of Wellington ideal and permanent conditions for the homes of the people. That is one of the greatest developments that any government, national or local, can bring about.
“There has been in our own city in the last few years a remarkable development in the way of modern and up-to-date buildings. Only comparatively recently we have had erected the Citizens' War Memorial, the Carillon, the National War Memorial and Art Gallery, and many fine commercial buildings. Within the next few weeks the Wellington City Council will be accepting the successful tender for the erection of a new municipal library. When you think of all these things and when you look upon this magnificent building, you must be impressed by the wonderful development of the town, and you must be inspired by a feeling of national and civic pride. All these things are indicative of our progress as a community, but they do not mark the end. Just a week from to-day there will be inaugurated an air service from Wellington to Auckland, a service that will take passengers from Wellington to Auckland in three
hours. Of course, I am not suggesting that this service will supplant the railways, but the service is another indication of the development and growth of our activities in Wellington.” Mr. Hislop concluded by referring to the opportunity the people of New Zealand would have in 1940 of celebrating the Centenary of the country.
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