146 THE NEW UNION BUILDINGS. 



To ignore the axial line would be unthinkable, so the difficulty 

 of the depression must either be overcome, and rendered as non» 

 existent; or letained and recognised as an appeal or challenge. 



It is now a matter of history that the heroic course was decided 

 upon, and the ominous feature boldly thrown into the centre of 

 the scheme. Perhaps from an utilitarian point of view the treat- 

 ment consequently involved, meant a course open to considerable 

 criticism, for it necessarily also meant the conferring upon an essen- 

 tially utilitarian structure an outstanding element of idealism. But 

 possibly the expense so involved has not been greater than any 

 worthy alternative method would have been. For if the "trouble" 

 ol the depression had been absolutely disposed of and a level 

 rectangular plateau secured, there must have been, among other 

 demands, the fuller breaking of a continuous frontage, the intro- 

 duction otherwise of pronounced relieving features, and some- 

 thing of the pre-eminently assertive in regard to the skyline, and 

 that would also eventually pull the whole together. 



The opportunity certainly was unique, and coming at a period 

 in the history of architecture when scientific planning is securing 

 so ample attention and its genii so ready to hand, Mr. Herbert 

 Baker, the accomplished architect entrusted with the scheme, was 

 exceptionally fortunate ; and combined with an able recognition of 

 the possibilities of the site, the result will be South Africa's posses- 

 sion of a structure of a very high order, and one in fact that 

 promises to rank worthily among the noblest buildings of the 

 Empire — moreover it is a structure that will add considerable fuel 

 to the imaginative faculties. 



But in the absence of an open competition, with the resultant 

 concentration of a number of able minds upon the subject, it is, of 

 course, impossible to determine whether the design now being 

 carried into effect would' have attained the premier position. From 

 what I know of the architect, I have confidence that he would 

 be ready at its completion to state, as did his great namesake, the 

 late Sir Benjamin Baker, at the opening of the Forth Bridge (and 

 mentioned also to me by him personally, when visiting South 

 Africa), "that he believed there were several who would have done 

 equally as well as he had done, if only they had been favoured with 

 the opportunity." 



So packed with poetry, and having symbolism writ so large 

 upon the scheme, I may be pardoned for some allusions of a pre- 

 fatory nature. 



Most wisely has the main axial line been clearly maintained, 

 and a vista rendered possible from the south of the monumental 

 saddle of the Kop ; while from the North, representatives of the 

 State on arriving for the discharge of their high duties, may have 

 a vista of the countrv which for the time being lies so fully at their 

 feet. 



And most suggestively in the immediate forefront of that view 

 stretches an open-air amphitheatre, fit reminder that their tenure 

 of office is dependent upon the people's freedom of will. But 

 there is far more than ministerial reminder in that amphitheatre 

 and its accessories ; for the people themselves will meet there for 

 great receptions, for the recognition of merit, for the conferring 



